India, Sept. 26 -- A fossilized skull found in China more than three decades ago has been digitally reconstructed, and the findings may rewrite the story of how humans emerged. According to a new study published in Science, the specimen, known as Yunxian 2, suggests modern humans and their closest relatives split far earlier than once believed.

The Yunxian skulls were first uncovered in Hubei Province in 1989 and 1990. Both were heavily damaged, making it difficult for the researchers to place them on the human family tree.

For many years, the skulls were assumed to belong to Homo erectus. But with 3D scanning and computer modeling, researchers from China and the UK have managed to "undo" the damage and study the skull in detail.

The r...