Mauer 1
| Catalog no. | GPIH 1 |
|---|---|
| Common name | Mauer 1 |
| Species | Homo heidelbergensis |
| Age | 609 k ± 40 k |
| Place discovered | Mauer, Germany |
| Date discovered | October 21, 1907 |
| Discovered by | Daniel Hartmann |
The Mauer 1 mandible is the oldest-known specimen of the genus Homo in Germany. It was found in 1907 in a sand quarry in the community Mauer, around 10 km (6.2 mi) south-east of Heidelberg. The Mauer 1 mandible is the type specimen of the species Homo heidelbergensis. Some European researchers have classified the find as Homo erectus heidelbergensis, regarding it as a subspecies of Homo erectus. In 2010 the mandible's age was for the first time exactly determined to be 609,000 ± 40,000 years. Previously, specialist literature had referred to an age of either 600,000 or 500,000 years on the basis of less accurate dating methods.