Nature, Published online: 12 March 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-00678-zThe partial midface of a hominin fossil has been found in the Sima del Elefante cave site near Burgos, northern Spain, and dates to between 1.4 million and 1.1 million years ago. Its discovery enables the exploration of the facial features of early Europeans and enhances our understanding of the evolutionary history of European ancestors.