Averie Singleton

Teri Potter

Anthropology 1020

December 1st 2019

Research Paper

Modern Human Origins

There is a degree of uncertainty surrounding the evolution of modern humans

from Homo erectus after H. erectus left Africa in the early Pleistocene. Included is

a debate of the two theories: Regional continuity and replacement.

In this paper, I will first explain the models, then discuss the merits of each model

through scientific data and I will propose the most supported theory as the most

likely scenario of human origins through opinion.

Firstly, there are two main views to human evolution. The model of regional

continuity offers an explanation also known as multi-regional evolution. It suggests

that local populations on the different continents continued to evolve into

anatomically modern humans separately, but not completely separate as to cause

speciation. It is proposed that the sum populations remained a single human species

due to continued mixing that occurred between the populations (see Figure 1). [1] In

an article from 2000, Milford Wolpoff and his colleagues clarified that this model

does not intend to insist that there are multiple points of origins, but instead accounts
for the genic exchanges seen in the species as a whole and at the regional, local

levels. [2] Replacement models differ from the previously discussed theory in that

they advocate that modern humans evolved while still in Africa and only later

populated the continents where they replaced (Out of Africa in Figure 1) and

possibly mixed (Assimilation in Figure 1) with the existing hominids in those areas.

[1]

There is confirmation of the theories presented through genetic and

archeological study. Modern humans are believed to have first appeared in Africa

approximately 195,000 years ago according to the oldest Homo sapien remains: two

partial skeletons found in Ethiopia. [3] The oldest African specimens of H. sapiens

predate the oldest remains found outside of Africa by at least 60,000 years. [4]

Modern humans have been in Africa longer than anywhere else, based on the current

evidence. Therefore, the beginning of our story seems to have an African setting and

supports a replacement model, specifically, the Out of Africa and Assimilation

theories.

As the definitions of the evolutionary theories seem to change with sources

and over time, one thing that is made clear by Fernanda Neubauer: “interbreeding

occurred among many hominin populations in the Late Pleistocene, but the extent of

gene flow between them was generally low.” [5] The hypothesis that Denisovans

originated from Asia has been supported by genetic evidence [6] and stone tools
dated 74,000 years ago linking Native Australians to Asian roots. [7] In one study,

Denisovan mtDNA was found in morphologically Neanderthal remains from Sima

de los Huesos, which is in Europe. [6] Neanderthal DNA can be found in all

populations of humans outside of Africa and Denisovan DNA is only found in

Southeast Asia and Oceania. [5] The Multi-regional model and the Assimilation

model seem to be the only models which account for these examples of genetic

exchange.

The original theory, the Out of Africa theory which was proposed by Charles

Darwin, has become too rigid and outdated based on new genetic studies according

to Neubauer. [5] And I would certainly agree with this assessment. It has been

discovered that the Out of Africa theory needs to evolve with the new evidence if it

is to survive the natural selection of recent scientific research. It is very likely that

our origins are mostly African, but perhaps not only African. Perhaps there was

regional specialization as well as waves of dispersals as the Assimilation theory

addressed.

Considering what I’ve learned, I agree most with the Out of Africa Theory of

human evolution. However, our origins are not as clear cut as proposed at first. If

the theory was verified to account for the amount of mixing that has been shown, it

would be better. The initial theory that the recent views come from, were based on

the limited and only archeological evidence. With the limited, but more evidence
available today, it has become more apparent that the simple phylogenetic trees of

the past will become large networks of intertwined root systems. It will be through

further study of the DNA sequencing and analysis in addition to the artifacts and

remains found throughout the world that will allow us to unlock the complex secrets

of the past.

While I’m still learning about human evolution, and don’t know as much as

others, I do know that scientists on each side defend singular hypothesis. It would

be smart to remain near the center of the debate and let the evidence speak for itself

over time. Such a large and overarching question should demand an equally

complicated and all-encompassing answer. As the pieces begin to be placed together

to form a more complete picture, there may be a compromise between the many

hypothesis. I remember from the documentary, “Particle Fever,” [9] in which one of

the greatest and highly anticipated collaborative experiments conducted to test one

of the largest questions of physics results in a number that lands exactly in the center

of the two sides of a debate and leaves not a single theory being supported by the

evidence. One would be at a loss to expect our biggest questions to receive such

simple answers.
References:

[1]

R. Jurmain, L. Kilgore and W. Trevathan, "The Origin and Dispersal of Modern

Humans," in Human Origins: Evolution and Diversity, 9th ed., Mason, Ohio:

Cengage Learning, 2011, pp. 282-309.

[2]

M. H. Wolpoff, J. Hawks and R. Caspari, "Multiregional, Not Multiple Origins,"

American Journal of Physical Anthropology, no. 112, pp. 129-136, 200.

[3]

F. H. B. J. G. F. Ian McDougall, "Stratigraphic placement and age of modern

humans from Kibish, Ethiopia," Nature, no. 433, pp. 733-736, 17 February 2005.

[4]

C. &. B. S. Tryon, "Testing Models of Modern Human Origins with Archaeology

and Anatomy," Nature Education Knowledge, p. 4(3):4, 2013.

[5]
F. Neubauer, "A Brief Overview of the Last 10 Years of Major Late Pleistocene

Discoveries in the Old World: Homo floresiensis, Neanderthal, and Denisovan,"

Journal of Anthropology, 15 June 2014.