Final answer:
The later fossils from Atapuerca are suggested to be ancestral to modern humans and Neanderthals, representing a significant link in human evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The researchers who described the later fossils from Atapuerca suggest that they are ancestral to modern humans (Homo sapiens), Neanderthals, and their associated subgroups. The Homo antecessor, found in the Sima de los Huesos site in Spain, represents the oldest evidence of the genus Homo in Europe and is considered by some scientists to be a common ancestor to later hominins, including Homo heidelbergensis. These Atapuerca fossils provide invaluable insights into the evolution and divergence of early Homo species, including the Neanderthals.