For several generations, paleoanthropologists have been puzzled by the origins of Homo sapiens, our species. With the advent of genetic studies and far-flung fossil discoveries, the answer about our species' origins has gotten more complicated.
The answer regarding Homo sapiens' origins is still widely debated. So far, researchers were able to unearth homo sapiens fossils that date back to 300,000 years ago. However, other scientists have traced the origins of modern humans to a million years ago.
One reason behind the unclear answer is related to what being "homo sapiens" actually means.
Unique Species
The concept of the biological species is quite known, with members of a certain population that interbreeds being considered as a species of their own. With the help of DNA analysis, scientists in 2010 found that both humans and Neanderthals interbred across the Middle East and in Europe.
Aside from this, another close relative known as Denisovans from Asia also interbred with humans roughly 50,000 years ago. Some anthropologists consider Denisovans and NEanderthals the same biological species as humans. However, others think that the two are different species in the Homo genus.
However, since scientists were not able to extract the older specimen's DNA in Africa, where DNA was found to not preserve well in the last 20,000 years or so, paleoanthropologists are utilizing a fresh concept to know more about the evolution of Homo sapiens.
In the family-tree species, or phylogenetic concept, a particular group of physical characteristics is used to identify species members. This is the primary way that paleoanthropologists distinguish and understand hominin ancestor fossils. Additional proof, such as stone tools found alongside the fossils, can shed light on the specific species a certain individual was part of.
The field of paleoanthropology faces the challenge of figuring out how archaeology, DNA, and fossil evidence could be consolidated to understand the origins of homo sapiens.
Origins of Homo Sapiens
Based on the perspective of human evolution research leader Chris Stringer from the Natural History Museum in the UK, the oldest known fossil that exhibits a morphological pattern that is similar to Homo sapiens is the skeleton of Omo Kibish 1, which is from Ethiopia. These remains are roughly 230,000 years in age. The skull fossil has a globe-shaped and tall head as well as a chin that is like that of humans. This has led researchers to dub it East Africa's oldest known Homo sapiens.
However, Stringer also notes that several other researchers accept the fossil Florisbad from South Africa, which dates back to 260,000 years ago. On top of that, there are also fossils from Morocco.
Paleoanthropologist Jean-Jacques Hublin from Collège de France explains that the oldest forms that are attributed to Homo sapiens are fossils from Morocco that date back to roughly 300,000 years ago. The remains found in Jebel Irhoud in Morocco included many skulls with heavy brow ridges and long braincases similar to those of earlier ancestors. However, their teeth, jaws, and faces are largely similar to Homo sapiens.
Eleanor Scerri, who leads the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology's Pan African Evolution Research Group, explains that the fossil from Hebel Irhous is widely accepted as a very early example of Homo Sapiens.
However, even if the earliest behavior and fossil evidence are taken at face value, such dating of 300,000 years ago appears too recent. Paleoanthropologist John Hawks from the University of Wisconsin-Madison explains his opinion that Homo sapiens may have evolved around 700,000 to a million years ago in Africa.
A Continuing Mystery
That said, the question about Homo sapiens' evolution remains an unanswered mystery. Sang-Hee Lee, a paleoanthropologist from the University of California, explains that each part of the question is also being questioned, such as what "Homo sapiens," "first," and "appearance" really means.
Scerri explains that more archaeology, fossils, and prehistoric DNA from various regions are necessary to know more about which areas in Africa played a crucial role in the origins of Homo sapiens, what the role exactly was, if some regions had a more vital role compared to others if they could have been equal, the involved ecosystems, and if there were areas that were not included in the narrative.
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