First Studies of Fossil of new Human Ancestor Take Place at the European Synchrotron

Despite its Recent Discovery, one of the Best-Preserved Hominid Fossils has Already Been Analysed with Synchrotron Light

GRENOBLE, France, April 8, 2010 - Prof. Lee Berger of the University of the Witwatersrand (South
Africa) has discovered a new species of early human ancestor in one of the
best-preserved skeletons of an hominid, dated around 1.9 million years old,
in the Cradle of Humankind. This discovery was published on 9 April in
Science.

The fossil's extraordinary state of preservation encouraged
scientists to exploit a non-destructive tool called X-ray synchrotron
microtomography, which has revolutionised palaeontology and
palaeoanthropology in the last decade. Preliminary, not-yet-published results
show the presence of what could be fossilised insect eggs and hints of a
potential brain remnant of the hominid.

The use of X-ray synchrotron microtomography for studying
fossils has been developed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
(ESRF) in Grenoble, France, by Paul Tafforeau. The ESRF synchrotron light
enables scientists to visualise the inside of a fossil block, sometimes up to
the micron scale, without breaking it open, with contrast, sensitivity and
resolution far above those of conventional X-ray machines.

Prof. Lee Berger teamed up with Paul Tafforeau and took the
fossil to the ESRF in February 2010 for an extensive two-week long
investigation. In addition to the skull, many fragments of the skeleton,
representing nearly forty percent of an entire body, were also analysed.

They also analysed in detail the teeth of the fossil. Studying
their internal growth lines and structure to the daily level could provide
the age at death of the individual. By comparing his real age and his
developmental level, scientists would gain insights about his life history
1.9 million years ago.

Prof. Lee Berger pushed the investigation further by using the
ESRF to look at possible remnants of soft parts of the body that normally do
not fossilise, such as brain tissue. He did not carve out entirely the stone
matrix from the skull, a procedure carried out for all other hominid skulls
in the past to prepare for examination. The X-rays delved deep into the rock
to find any fossilised traces of what had been there 1.9 million years ago.

The analysis of the data has only just started, but the
preliminary visualisation of the complete skull already available shows
fossilised insect eggs whose larvae could have fed on the flesh of the
hominid after death. Researchers also noticed an extended low density area
that could point towards a remnant of the brain after its bacterial decay.

It is only the second time ever that a complete skull of a
hominid is examined using powerful synchrotron radiation. This kind of
analysis is currently only possible at the ESRF.

Wits University is the curator of the fossils which belong to
the people of South Africa.

More resources from 1200 GMT on 12th April:
video360.world-television.com/esrf

Contact:

Wits University: S.PATEL, +27-11-717-1019, Shirona.Patel@wits.ac.za

ESRF: M.CAPELLAS, +33-4-7688-2663, capellas@esrf.fr

Contact: Wits University: S.PATEL, +27-11-717-1019, Shirona.Patel at wits.ac.za ; ESRF: M.CAPELLAS, +33-4-7688-2663, capellas at esrf.fr