A lot of people don’t realize that fossilized ape remains are extremely rare. I think the first ever chimpanzee fossil was only found a decade ago. Simply put, apes or humans don’t generally die on muddy banks to be covered before the body is scavenged.
Yep... Fossils of any and all species are actually very rare to find. Just finding one bone in a new location can put a whole town on the map and create a paleontology tourist industry.
Finding new fossils is a pretty big deal because it is indeed so rare.