ATE9-2 is a proximal left-hand phalanx probably of the fifth finger of an adult Homo. The bone is complete, and the proximal epiphysis is fused, indicating that it belonged to an individual over 16 years of age. It was discovered during the 2008 field season from square I-28 on level TE9 of the Sima del Elefante Cave site in the Sierra de Atapuerca region of Burgos Province, Spain [1][2]. The TE9 level has been dated to the Early Pleistocene at 1.2 Ma to 1.3 Ma [1][3][4].

Morphological and metrical analyses show no significant differences between ATE9-2 and other fossil specimens for the genus Homo (Sima de los Huesos and Neanderthals) after 1.3 Ma. This suggests that hand morphology remained stable over the last 1.2 million years. ATE9-2, like the Sima de los Huesos and Neanderthal specimens, is robust, indicating overall body robusticity in these populations [1][2].