Modern human origins: progress and prospects

Abstract

The question of the mode of origin of modern humans (Homo sapiens) has dominated palaeoanthropological debate over the last decade. This review discusses the main models proposed to explain modern human origins, and examines relevant fossil evidence from Eurasia, Africa and Australasia. Archaeological and genetic data are also discussed, as well as problems with the concept of 'modernity' itself. It is concluded that a recent African origin can be supported for H. sapiens, morphologically, behaviourally and genetically, but that more evidence will be needed, both from Africa and elsewhere, before an absolute African origin for our species and its behavioural characteristics can be established and explained.

Haplotype Trees and Modern Human Origins

“…The strong rejection of the recent out-of-Africa replacement hypothesis is particularly noteworthy, as this hypothesis has dominated much of the discussion of recent human evolution over the last couple of decades (Stringer and Andrews, 1988;Vigilant et al, 1991;Stringer, 2002). Moreover, a recent analysis claimed that the genetic data \clearly" support the out-of-Africa replacement hypothesis (Ray et al, 2005).…”

“…The second expansion corresponds to the spread of Acheulean culture into much of Eurasia after an earlier African origin (Asfaw et al, 1992;Hou et al, 2000) and the initiation of a substantial increase in cranial capacity (Ruff et al, 1997;Relethford, 2001b;Rightmire, 2004). The most recent expansion out of Africa corresponds to the spread of several anatomically modern traits into Eurasia after an earlier African origin (Stringer, 2002;White et al, 2003).…”

A geometric morphometric analysis of hominin upper first molar shape

“…The scope of den tal anthropology ranges from ecological studies (e.g., Molnar, The origin of H. sapiens, our relationship with H. neander thalensis, and the identification of our last common ancestor is still an open debate (e.g., Benmidez de Castro et aI., 1997;Fo1ey and Labr, 1997;Labr and Fo1ey, 1998;Rightrnire, 1998;Stringer and Hub1in, 1999;Stringer, 2002). Thus, it is neces sary to search for morphological traits that establish the simi larities and differences among the groups under discussion.…”

The Middle Paleolithic of Arabia: The View from the Hadramawt Region, Yemen

“…Recent paleoanthropological debates have given place to discussions about the geographical origin of anatomically modern humans (AMH), and about human dispersal on Earth (e.g., Aiello, 1993 ;Klein, 1998 ;Stringer, 2000Stringer, , 2002Stringer, , 2003Bräuer et al, 2004 ;Macaulay et al, 2005) . One theory in particular considers that the ancestors of AMH originate from Africa alone, and appear between 200 and 100 ka (Cann et al, 1987 ;Stringer and McKie, 1996 ;White et al, 2003 ;McDougall et al, 2005) .…”