A new fossil find of human ancestors that lived approximately 4.5 million years ago could be a key to filling in missing pieces of the fossil record of human evolution according to some paleontologists.

The remains of the primate called Ardipithecus were discovered in Ethiopia according to a report published in the science journal 'Nature.' Teeth, the jaw and parts of toes and finger bones were found at the site located roughly 300 miles from Addis Ababa.

'If you go back in time, around 4.5 million years ago and older, there are only very few sites across Africa where a few jaw, finger and toe bones have been found,' Sileshi Semaw of Indiana University told Reuters.

'It is a very important finding because it does confirm hominids walked upright on two feet definitely 4.5 million years ago,' he added.

The evidence suggests that Ardipithecus walked upright although it most likely bore a closer physical resemblance to chimpanzees than to modern humans.

'We now have more than 30 fossils from at least nine individuals dated between 4.3 and 4.5 million years old,' Semaw exclaimed.

Still, he made it clear that additional specimens were needed to get a fuller picture of the development of early humans.