Ancient Human Jawbone Found in Residential Floor Tile

A dentist discovered a piece of ancient human jawbone embedded in a travertine floor tile at his parents' home, sparking scientific interest in the rare find.

A dentist identified a human jawbone in a travertine tile during a visit to his parents' renovated home, initially sharing the discovery on Reddit.
The tile, sourced from a Turkish quarry, is believed to be from a period ranging between 1.8 million to 0.7 million years ago.
Paleoanthropologists are intrigued by the find, noting that such fossils are uncommon in commercial travertine used today.
Scientists are planning to conduct detailed studies, including CT scans and possibly DNA analysis, to learn more about the ancient human.
The discovery highlights the ongoing tension between industrial quarrying and archaeological preservation, with potential for more such finds in commercial stones.