A recently discovered skull dating back half a million years suggests that the earliest humans may not have abandoned children with birth defects.

The skull is that of a child with craniosynostosis, a congenital condition that limits brain growth and can cause mental retardation. The skull represents the earliest finding of a human with a condition that might have made them dependent on others in order to survive.

It is unclear whether the child had any cognitive differences, but scientists are certain the individual had physical differences. In most species, children born with deformities are neglected or killed, reports New Scientist. To read more click here.

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