110,000-year-old Chinese Fossil Poses Challenge to 'Out of Africa' Theory

Submitted by Michael Kan on Tue, 11/10/2009 - 12:34

Dating back to 110,000 years ago, a human fossil found in China could provide evidence disputing the theory that all modern day humans originally came from Africa.

Last week, China’s Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology announced the discovery. Comprising of a human jawbone fragment, the fossil was found a year ago in southern China’s Guangxi pronvince.

Jin Changzhu, a researcher with the institute, said the find was especially important since very few human fossils from this evolutionary period have been found in China. He added that the jawbone is that of an early modern human, but it also bears the traits of our more primitive ancestors.

“The chin protrudes out like a Homo sapiens would, but the jaw also slopes in way like that of a Homo erectus,” he said.

Not Out of Africa Theory

Wu Xinzhi, a professor with the institute, said he believes the discovery presents evidence to challenge the “Out of Africa” hypothesis.

This theory, which is more commonly held among scientists, argues that modern day humans directly descended from ancestors on the African continent. They then started to migrate across the globe around 60,000 years ago and replaced the more primitive humans.

“If this is true, then in China, we should not be able to find a mandible (jaw) of a fossil with modern features older than 60,000 years,” Wu said. “But this Guangxi mandible is 110,000 years old. This means that this ‘Out of Africa’ theory is not true, at least not for China.”

Instead, Wu said the fossil find lends support to another theory called the multiregional hypothesis. Under this scenario, humanity’s ancestors from Africa spread themselves across other continents by interbreeding with other primitive humans and evolving regionally. The blend of modern human and Homo erectus characteristics of the fossil found in China provides evidence for this Wu said.

But some other scientists from across the world are more skeptical about the discovery and its conclusions.

Opponents to the Theory

Chris Stringer, a professor at the Natural History Museum in London, is a leading proponent of the Out of Africa theory. He welcomed the find, but said the fossil was unfortunately too incomplete to accurately determine whether it was truly a Homo sapiens. He added that from what had been discovered, the fossil could also belong to that of a Neanderthal or other primitive human.

“If more complete material of this age is eventually found to match the (Homo) sapiens anatomical pattern this would at minimum suggest a more complex Out of Africa scenario,” Stringer said.

Tim White, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley who also studies human evolution, said he was doubtful of the claims being made about the fossil find. He added that the scientific paper published about the fossil find has so far been inadequate in convincing him.

"The evidence is extremely limited at this time, and the claims are extraordinary," White said. "Extraordinary claims deserve extraordinary evidence."

Wu said he has read the different rebuttals to the recent find, and does not expect his conclusions to convince everyone.

In the meantime China’s Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology is hoping to find more discoveries in Guangxi's Mulan Mountain, where the fossil was originally found. The excavated jawbone is currently in Beijing, where more study is being done on it.

“We welcome all scholars to come and see the fossil,” Wu said. “And we’d like to get their input on it.”

Read 6 comments, or leave your own

About The Author

Michael Kan (follow me:

)

Last three pieces by this author:

After Bowers Museums, Tarim Mummies move to Houston Museum of Natural Science | Treasure-laden Ming Shipwreck May Have Smuggled Arms | Four New Museums Planned in Xi'an City Wall Renovation

Michael Kan is a freelance journalist based in Beijing, China. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in history and Asian studies. From 2006 to 2008, he worked as a reporter at The Kansas City Star, and then took a year to teach English in Xi'an, China.

Comments

Sean Williams:

If I find an older fossil in Shoreditch, does that mean I can start the 'Out of Shoreditch' theory? Surely there are literally millions of fossils we just haven't found yet, and never will - so making such general theories is tantamount to useless. Anyone with me?

Wed, 11-11-2009 09:56

joon:

Great list! I am going to add a blog to my website and I just found your list. Might prove a good place to start thinking about the design. Thanks!<a href="http://bilgibank.tk/wordpress" rel="nofollow">bilgibank</a>

Sun, 13-02-2011 23:10

Donna Black:

Exactly Sean! Species of plant, insect, fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, mammal, etc. have evolved at different rates in time. There are many branches of each.

Why should the great apes be any different? All types of living beings have branches and, it's obvious really, so should the apes (human beings included).

Our earth has the seemingly miraculous ability to bring life all over its surface. We have species of animals on such places as Madagascar that aren't seen anywhere else on this planet. Why should the human branch of great ape be any different?

Fri, 06-05-2011 22:26

JO JO:

<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> We are not from apes and we all know that evolution theory has too many holes. I think we are just not putting all the facts together. The human race as we know it can’t even remember 500 years of history let along 80 years ago, we need to be told to even know of its existence. Just because they are starting to put this out of Africa theory to sleep don’t mean it’s not real evidence, if we evolved from one or two people wouldn’t we now have the signs of genetic damage even ruin. Look at the Native American’s they know where they come from, they know who they are and why they are here. I’m sure they didn’t come from monkeys/ apes or something to that affect. The theory of man being a big evolved ape man is just because we have two arms two legs and face that has some human like characteristics. IF this evidence is true we are not all from Africa well that doesn’t make Africa less important I think what’s what most people are afraid of that Africa will be forgotten.</p>

Thu, 11-08-2011 06:43

Dr Willie Maartens:

Yes, I absolutely agree!

Thu, 11-08-2011 07:53

Minepedia Crafting:

<p>Thank you for your sharing.</p>

Tue, 23-08-2011 15:26

Interesting Articles And Blog Posts

Beads: Ritual and Ornamentation – What Africa's Khoe-San were wearing 77,000 years ago

A small but remarkable exhibition at Cape Town’s South African Museum contains Middle Stone Age shell beads that scored points for Africa in the hard-fought debate on when and where modern human behaviour began.