The discovery of fossil remains at the Gran Dolina site in Spain led to the naming of a new species, Homo antecessor. Dating to around 800,000 years old, these are the oldest humans found in Western Europe. The species has been proposed as a possible ancestor of both modern humans and Neanderthals, though its exact relationship is debated. The find was important for understanding the early peopling of Europe and the diversity of early human species.

The discovery of Homo antecessor has added a new chapter to the story of early human migration into Europe, providing evidence that our ancestors were present on the continent far earlier than previously thought. This find has inspired poets to think about the global journey of early humans and the peopling of the continents. It has contributed to a more complex and dynamic vision of human prehistory, one that is constantly being rewritten with each new discovery.