Image copyright AP Discovered in China, fossils of ancient people may fundamentally change the theory of how, where and when Homo sapiens settled after leaving Africa.
In Daosyane, in southern China, the researchers found several dozen teeth of modern man, that at least 80 thousand years.
The results of the expedition to China, published in the journal Nature.
Until now it was thought that the outcome of Homo sapiens from Africa began only 40-60 thousand years ago, and it was a lot of evidence – both archaeological and genetic.
According to this theory, Homo sapiens, living in Horn of Africa, crossed the Strait of Bab el-Mandab, taking advantage of the relatively low level of the Red Sea at that time, and all the living people outside of Africa – the descendants of these immigrants.
More more ancient migration
But in the course of excavations in the cave of Fuyang in China’s Hunan Province, was found 47 human teeth.
“We once it was clear that these teeth are identical to the teeth of modern man. Surprised us with their age, “- said in an interview with BBC BBC Dr. Maria Martinon-Torres of University College London.
” These teeth are in calcite cave floor that they practically sealed. Accordingly, the teeth should be older than the layer of limestone. Above this layer growing stalagmites, and their age was set at 80 thousand years “.
From this it follows that all that is in the layers under the stalagmites, should be even more ancient. Which have been found teeth can even be 125 thousands of years, scientists say.
Given the distance from Africa to southern China, the conclusion that Homo sapiens left Africa about 40-70 thousand earlier than previously thought.
Also of animal remains found along with human teeth in a cave Fuyang, typical of the late Pleistocene era, which corresponds to the dating of the remains using isotopes.
The ancient remains of Homo sapiens, relating to an earlier start date of human migration out of Africa , were found in the past – for example, in the caves of Es Skhul and Kafzeh in Israel. But until now it was thought that these were examples of early, ended in failure attempt to migrate.
However, the discovery of such ancient remains in China were fully mixed map.
Several outcomes in Africa
“Some researchers have put forward the theory of an earlier settlement of people from Africa,” – says Dr. Martinon-Torres.
“We have to understand what’s wrong with this migration wave. We must learn to have ended if it fails, or they became the ancestors of people living today”.
“It may well be that we – the descendants of the migration of 60 thousand years ago, but we need to review our model. Maybe there were a few outcomes from Africa” - says Maria Martinon-Torres of University College London.
Cold and nepriyutnaya Europe
Professor Chris Stringer of London’s Natural History Museum said that this discovery could dramatically change the representation of migration Homo sapiens.
“Many people, including myself, have argued that the early migration from Africa to the Levant about 120 thousand years ago, as indicated by the remains of the cave Es Skhul and Kafzeh were only failed attempts that have not spread below the Israeli”.
“However, the teeth of Daosyana undoubtedly modern look in their morphology and size, and, judging by the results of the uranium-thorium dating, they are at least 80 thousand years. At first glance, it confirms the theory of the early settlement of people like cave dwellers and Es Skhul Kafzeh “.
” But the teeth of Daosyana more like the teeth of modern humans than the teeth of the Israeli caves. This means that either among the population of Es Skhul-Kafzeh there was a rapid evolution of the formation of teeth or teeth of Daosyana – is evidence of the early migration of a totally different population, “- says Professor Stringer.
Dr Martinon-Torres also said that Their findings may help explain why Homo sapiens arrived in Europe only 40 thousand years.
It is likely that Neanderthals prevent migration of Homo sapiens in western Europe, while their number is beginning to decline. It is also possible that Homo sapiens, which originated in the tropical regions, was just a little adapted to life in cold Europe.
Martinon-Torres said that while Homo sapiens colonized the south of China, about 80 thousand years ago, the colder areas of the central and northern China were inhabited by a primitive humanoid that could be Asian “relatives” Neanderthal.
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