Advanced analysis on the fossilized remains of an early human ancestor confirmed its relationship with humans and demonstrates that the animal probably was also related to chimpanzees. It lived nearly 7 million years ago.

The creature, dubbed 'Toumai,' was discovered in Chad. In 2002, researchers declared it to be mankind's oldest ancestor, predating 'Lucy' by a few million years.

Two new studies published in the journal 'Nature' show that 'Toumai' was indeed related to both humans and chimpanzees but more closely related to humans.

One study focused on reconstructing the face of 'Toumai' using computer models. The skull and jaw pieces that were found were crushed although still nearly complete.

'It's as if you sit by accident on an Easter egg,' said Christoph Zollikofer, co-author of the study. 'So everything is fractured, and distorted, but everything is there.'

The results were that Toumai's teeth were more human than chimp like but his face was closer in shape to apes.

Furthermore, Zollikofer explained to Newsday, Toumai was a biped so it had a small hole in its skull connecting its spinal cord to the brain. 'And in a way, that's one consequence of bipedalism,' or walking upright. If a dog puts himself on his hind legs, its head looks toward the sky,' he said, but the orientation would be awkward for animals that normally walk on two legs. 'The evolutionary solution is to make the face more vertical relative to the skull.'

The conclusion was that 'Toumai' existed shortly after the split between the ancestors of chimpanzees and humans but was more closely related to humans. He stood roughly three-and-a-half to four feet tall.

While more research needs to be done and the record is incomplete, scientists believe they have found an important clue to early human evolution.