When Did Humans First Appear on Earth?
Quick Answer
There is evidence to suggest that archaic humans, of which modern humans are descended, were present as long as 195,000 years ago in what is now Ethiopia, as fossils recovered from the region show the beginnings of skull changes that evolved into the modern human skull. The first early human fossils were discovered in 1868 in southwest France.
Continue ReadingFull Answer
All known fossil records suggest that the early humans that evolved into today's human beings were originally centered around the Ethiopia region initially, but began spreading into southern Africa, southwest Asia and Israel over the course of 70,000 - 100,000 years ago.
There are two theories concerning the evolution of modern humans: the replacement model and the regional continuity model.
The replacement model suggests that archaic humans evolved first in Africa, before spreading into the Old World where they replaced Neanderthals around 60,000 years ago. This would suggest that all humans share a common African ancestry.
The regional continuity model proposes that humans evolved at roughly the same time in different regions from various settlements of local archaic humans.
Both models agree, however, that modern man is certainly descended from the archaic African communities, although whether they are central to human evolution or merely a single part of it is still debated.
Learn more about AnthropologyRelated Questions
-
Q:
When Was Fire First Discovered?
A: Archaeologists discovered evidence of human-made fire stemming from cave campfires dating back 1 million years ago. The remains of campfires were found in ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Was the First Human Race on Earth?
A: According to an article published in The Independent, the San people are most likely the oldest human population group to inhabit Earth. The claim is based... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Who Was the First Person to Live on Earth?
A: According to the Christian Bible, Adam was the first person, man or woman, to live on earth. However, scientific findings suggest that Adam was not the fir... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Are Polystrate Fossils?
A: Polystrate fossils are single organism fossils that are encased in multiple layers of rock, such as a tree trunk. "Poly" means more than one, and "strata" ... Full Answer >Filed Under:
You May Also Like
-
Q:
How Long Does It Take to Travel Around the Earth at Light Speed?
-
Q:
What Causes Day and Night on Earth?
-
Q:
What Are the Different Branches of Anthropology?
-
Q:
What Is the Distance From the Earth to Space?
-
Q:
What Causes Temperatures to Change on Earth?
-
Q:
How Does Its Magnetic Field Protect the Earth?
