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Homo cepranensis
Three hundred times as ancient as Rome
Eugene M. McCarthy, Ph.D.
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Homo cepranensis is based on remains
found near Ceprano, Italy (red dot)
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Homo cepranensis is a name created (Mallegni et al. 2003) on the basis on a single skullcap dating to 800,000–900,000 BP, unearthed in a road construction project near Ceprano, Italy in 1994 (Manzi et al. 2001). The fact that the material was of human origin was recognized by Italo Biddittu of Rome's Institute of Paleontology, who happened to be present when the remains came to light.
"Ceprano Man" has not, however, been accepted as distinct from the contemporary and far better documented Homo erectus. And, in fact, there really seems to be no good reason to name a new hominid on the basis of a single, not particularly distinctive, skull fragment.
But most paleoanthropologists would go so far as to agree that the individual to whom this skullcap belonged does at least qualify as the oldest known Italian. The Ceprano material is about 300 times as old as the supposedly ancient city of Rome.
Interesting facts and information about other ancient hominids:
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