Our ancestors began migrating from Africa almost two million years ago. The first several waves of hominids headed in an easterly direction, toward Asia. But when did early humans turn west into Europe? The hominid fossils from Atapuerca may provide the answer. These 800,000-year-old remains—among the oldest in western Europe—represent the earliest known population of hominids to migrate into the far reaches of western Europe.

The question of when ancient humans first reached western Europe puzzled scholars for decades. For many years, researchers thought the region was not populated until around 500,000 years ago. But scientists realized that humans had been in Europe for considerably longer when researchers discovered hominid fossils at Gran Dolina that date back some 800,000 years.

Gran Dolina Boy skull Homo antecessor 800,000 years old R. Mickens/AMNH

Fossil remains of at least six hominids have been found at Gran Dolina. This partial skull, from the individual nicknamed Gran Dolina Boy, was recovered in 1995 and is the most complete fossil found to date at the site. Researchers have located fragments of the skull, jaw and part of the spinal column. Judging by his bone development and teeth eruption, Gran Dolina boy died around the age of 11.

The Gran Dolina fossils offer intriguing insights into when humans first moved into this part of the world. But since 1994, when the first remains were discovered, relatively few fossils have been retrieved and they are mostly small fragments. Continued excavations at Gran Dolina may uncover additional fossils and help researchers complete their picture of the first Europeans.