Homo sapiens arrived in China before Europe

Forty-seven human teeth dug up out of a cave in southern China reveal that our species, Homo sapiens, may have arrived in China 80,000 years ago – long before humans were able to leave their mark on Northern China and Europe.

The findings, published in the journal Nature, may compel researchers to reconsider the current view of human migrations out of Africa – and could hint that Neanderthals may have been a much greater barrier to Europe than previously thought.

Scientists believe that Homo sapiens first emerged in East Africa somewhere between 190,000 and 160,000 years ago, spread into the eastern Mediterranean around 100,000 to 60,000 years ago but then were replaced by Neanderthals after that, according to Robin Dennell of the University of Exeter, who was not involved in the paper.

The successful dispersal westward into Europe would not have come until much later, around 40,000 years ago. And scientists think that our species didn’t trek eastward until around 60,000 years ago, an idea based on some genetic estimates as well as on the similarities between stone tools in South Africa dated to 60,000 years ago and some in South Asia from 36,000 to 30,000 years ago.

Source: www.latimes.com...

According to this new evidence, humans first migrated to south China, before moving to north China and Europe. Reason might be population of Neanderthals that lived in Europe at the time.

It is really cool that we live in times of almost weekly discoveries and still have people who don't believe any evidence....

I think the homo's popped up at different places at different times.

a reply to: SuperFrog

OMG! I read your thread title wrong. I was like, "how did homo sapiens beat Europe to China?"

Good find in any case. I think it makes sense since India has one of the oldest civilizations in the world currently, and China isn't far behind them.

One of my deep fears is that we annihilated the Neanderthals of the past. I can only hope they left us for other reasons, but knowing humans, I'm sure we killed them all off. Especially if they were keeping us from expanding.

originally posted by: SuperFrog

Forty-seven human teeth dug up out of a cave in southern China reveal that our species, Homo sapiens, may have arrived in China 80,000 years ago – long before humans were able to leave their mark on Northern China and Europe.

The findings, published in the journal Nature, may compel researchers to reconsider the current view of human migrations out of Africa – and could hint that Neanderthals may have been a much greater barrier to Europe than previously thought.

Scientists believe that Homo sapiens first emerged in East Africa somewhere between 190,000 and 160,000 years ago, spread into the eastern Mediterranean around 100,000 to 60,000 years ago but then were replaced by Neanderthals after that, according to Robin Dennell of the University of Exeter, who was not involved in the paper.

The successful dispersal westward into Europe would not have come until much later, around 40,000 years ago. And scientists think that our species didn’t trek eastward until around 60,000 years ago, an idea based on some genetic estimates as well as on the similarities between stone tools in South Africa dated to 60,000 years ago and some in South Asia from 36,000 to 30,000 years ago.

Source: www.latimes.com...

According to this new evidence, humans first migrated to south China, before moving to north China and Europe. Reason might be population of Neanderthals that lived in Europe at the time.

It is really cool that we live in times of almost weekly discoveries and still have people who don't believe any evidence....

There have been findings in China dating between 75-125k for about 5 years. It's also good to remember we aren't scouring the earth for remains. Often they are discovered by chance. Several humid regions don't preserve bones well.

We have barely touched the surface.

originally posted by: Boomy327
One of my deep fears is that we annihilated the Neanderthals of the past. I can only hope they left us for other reasons, but knowing humans, I'm sure we killed them all off. Especially if they were keeping us from expanding.

Neanderthals were hunters, Home Sapiens became Hunter-Gatherers who would put up fences and corrals. There was some interbreeding. It might simply have been that Neanderthals figured it was easier to become farm workers rather than remain living in caves.