Abstract: The highly projecting nasal bones of Homo erectus from Nanjing have been believed to be the evidence for western affinities. However, an observation made in this paper shows that highly projecting nasal bones have not been found in the crania from Africa, Europe and West Asia during the time period of Nanjing Homo erectus or earlier times. This feature appeared much later in Africa and Europe than in Asia. The fossil evidences available cannot support the western affinities of Homo erectus from Nanjing now.

Key words: Homo erectus from Nanjing; Highly projecting nasal bones; Western affinities