Early Human Migration: Jordan Rift Valley May Have Served As Route For Humans Out of Africa

An international team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Southampton and Shantou University, has confirmed that over 80,000 years ago, early human migration happened when people left Africa for Eurasia through a "well-watered corridor" in the Jordan region.

This corridor served as a pathway for hunter-gatherers towards western Asia and northern Arabia, contradicting the current desert landscape. The findings align with previous research in Arabia and are published in the journal Science Advances.

Early Migrants Traveled Via the Once Lush East Mediterranean Path to Europe

The present-day Jordan Rift Valley, located in the east of the Mediterranean, is characterized by its challenging arid, barren, and rugged terrain, making it an inhospitable place for activities like hiking, let alone traversing with one's family on foot. However, research suggests that this harsh landscape was likely the route chosen by early humans when they first migrated out of Africa.

Archaeologist Michael Petraglia from Griffith University in Australia said that the arid environments of the Levant and Arabia were crucial regions through which various species of Homo, including our own Homo sapiens, had to pass as they left Africa and ventured into Eurasia.

Although this land bridge is the only permanent connection, researchers remain open to the possibility that our ancient ancestors exited Africa via the Red Sea when water levels were lower during glacial periods, and the climates on both sides were more favorable.

To investigate this hypothesis, a team led by Shantou University geochronologist Mahmoud Abbas examined thirteen sediment samples that were approximately 84,000 years old from various sites within the Rift Valley.

At one site, stone tools suggested that hominins may have at least considered this route. Other studies have also uncovered artifacts, footprints, and human fossils in nearby caves dating from the same period.

The sediment samples showed a starkly different landscape with sand, gravel, rich organic matter, and mud, indicating lush vegetation due to increased rainfall. These wetlands offered ample resources, including food, for early humans and mammals during their journey from Africa to southwest Asia.

This research supports the idea that the Jordan Rift Valley, once savannah grasslands, served as a well-watered route for human migration during the last interglacial period.

Human Evolution and Migration Timeline

The timeline of human evolution spans millions of years, starting with the emergence of primitive primates around 55 million years ago. Over time, great apes evolved from gibbon ancestors, and the lineages of gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans began to diverge.

Key milestones include the appearance of Ardipithecus, an early 'proto-human,' around 5.5 million years ago, followed by the emergence of Australopithecines with some human-like features approximately 4 million years ago.

Australopithecus afarensis thrived in Africa between 3.9 and 2.9 million years ago. Paranthropus, adapted for wooded areas, appeared around 2.7 million years ago, coinciding with the introduction of hand axes, a significant technological advancement.

Homo habilis is thought to have appeared around 2.3 million years ago. The development of more 'modern' hands around 1.85 million years ago marked progress in tool-making abilities.

Homo ergaster entered the fossil record around 1.8 million years ago. Roughly 800,000 years ago, early humans learned to control fire, leading to a rapid increase in brain size. Neanderthals emerged around 400,000 years ago and expanded across Europe and Asia.

Finally, Homo sapiens, modern humans, appeared between 300,000 and 200,000 years ago in Africa, and they began migrating to Europe around 54,000 to 40,000 years ago, concluding the remarkable story of human evolution.

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