For generations, scientists have focused on the East African savanna as the cradle of our species. However, recent research has proposed a different narrative: Homo sapiens evolved across the entire African continent over the past several hundred thousand years. This Africa-wide theory suggests that early humans mastered living in various environments beyond the grasslands. A study published on Wednesday reveals that as far back as 150,000 years ago, some early humans were inhabiting deep within a West African rainforest.
“What we’re seeing is that, from a very early stage, ecological diversification is at the heart of our species,” stated Eleanor Scerri, an evolutionary archaeologist at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology in Jena, Germany, and one of the study's authors. In the 20th century, after the discovery of numerous fossils and stone tools in the East African savannas, many researchers believed that our species was particularly adapted to life in grasslands and open woodlands, where humans could hunt large herds of mammals. According to this theory, it was only much later that our species became versatile enough to thrive in more challenging environments.
Tropical rainforests were considered the most challenging environments of all. These jungles make it difficult to find sufficient food and provide numerous hiding places for predators. “You can’t see what to hunt,” Dr. Scerri explained, “and you can’t see what’s coming for you.” However, in 2018, Dr. Scerri and her colleagues questioned the notion that East African grasslands were the sole birthplace of humanity. They suggested that the abundance of stone tools and fossils found there might simply indicate that the region had favorable conditions for preserving historical artifacts.
This new perspective on human evolution highlights the significance of ecological adaptability and challenges the traditional view of a singular origin in the East African savannas. As researchers continue to explore and uncover evidence across the continent, the understanding of our ancestors' diverse habitats and survival strategies expands. The broader view of human evolution across Africa underscores the adaptability and resilience that define Homo sapiens.
