Fossilised skull of homo erectus unearthed in China

Beijing: Scientists have discovered a well preserved fossilised skull of homo erectus in China, which dates back around 150,000 to 412,000 years.

The fossil was discovered at the Hualongdong archaeological site in eastern China's Anhui province, said Liu Wu, from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The skull, which shows the face of a homo erectus, has remained well preserved, said Liu.

It dates back around 150,000 to 412,000 years or more, Liu said, adding the exact age shall be further examined.

This is another important site for homo erectus - an extinct species of human lineage - after findings were made in Zhoukoudian, Lantian, Hexian county and Nanjing, said Liu.

Archaeological exploration at Hualongdong started in 2006. Since then, more than 6,000 fossils of vertebrate animals and stoneware have been found.

Skull parts, teeth and bones have also been found, state-run 'Xinhua' news agency reported.

"It is quite uncommon to find such a great variety of fossils at a single site," said Liu.