Eder Olmos

ANTH-1020
Teresa Potter
April 27. 2016
Two different models of Human Origins
There are two big models to represent the origin of the human in the present
age. These two famous models cause the theory of evolution separate greatly. One of
human origin model calls The regional continuity model and another one calls The
replacement model. They have same base of model as the African initial homogenized
genus; this Homo sapiens began over 200,000 years ago. The organized Homo-family
by mitochondrial Eve was started in Africa. The intracellular mitochondria are inherited
only by the mothers side. Therefore, by using the mitochondria (technique to parse
mutation) to know that which Homo systems are near to others and when diverged
them. This technique also shows us chase the ancestor of the mothers side more.
According to it, the ancestor of the Homo sapiens lived in Africa in approximately
200,000 years ago (Eve Hypothesis). However, the Eve Hypothesis is good evidence to
define the replace model more than the other one. So there are questions, how these two
models are different? How are these models separated by same base of Homo sapiens
origin? Lets see differences.
Peter Andrews and Christopher Stringer proposed the replacement model that
modern Homo sapiens evolved from archaic Homo sapiens 200,000-150,000 years ago
only in Africa. And then their population split as some of them migrated into the Old
World; Around 60,000-40,000 years ago, Neanderthals and other late archaic Homo
sapiens were beginning replacing. If their study confirmed, the modern human is

sharing a relatively modern African ancestry. They also think that all other species of
Homo sapiens had descended from Homo erectus were became extinct. They think the
human today is evolved mostly in the last 40,000 years. DNA analysis and fossil record
were two sources of evidence supporting for their study. By using this investigation, a
skeletons of modern Homo sapiens have discovered in Africa. They date to
approximately 200,000 years ago on Africa. Furthermore, they have been Southwest
Asia around 100,000 and rest of the Old World by 60,000-40,000 years ago. The DNA
date explains the replace model well, unless to find a modern Homo sapiens remains
date to earlier 200,000 years in Europe or East Asia.

The regional continuity model was proposed by Milford Wolpoff. He thinks

that the Homo sapiens began in Africa was scattered to each area of the Old World and
they evolved in each area where they lived. For example, it is supposed Chinese archaic
Homo sapiens such as Chinese Homo erectus to had evolved the modern Chinese. This
models supporters believed that ancestor of all modern Homo sapiens was based on
early Homo erectus who lived at least 180,000 years ago in Africa. Fossil record is
supporting this regional continuity model well. Advocates said that in Europe and Asia,
there has been continuity of some anatomical traits from archaic Homo sapiens. They
also meant that the Asian and European leave an antiquity physical characteristics from
over 100,000 years ago. For example, many European have heavy brow ridges and a
high angle noses like Neanderthals.

These two different models greatly have the strong evidence of the DNA
analysis and the fossil record. At the same time both have not confirmed yet. Probably I

believe the replace model more than the regional continuity model. This is because I
thought that the DNA analysis using the Eve hypothesis can have reliability more.
However, I doubt the theory of evolution. I do not take the process of the change of the
Homo sapiens as evolution. Because it does not necessarily take a change affirmatively.
Like quadrupedalism run faster than bipedalism. Sometimes a deteriorating part shows
for evolution.
References

Dennis, Neil O. "Evolution of Modern Humans: Early Modern Homo Sapiens."

Evolution of Modern Humans: Early Modern Homo Sapiens. 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2016.

Palmer, Douglas. Origins: Human Evolution Revealed.(page8-11 and 174) London:

Mitchell Beazley, 2010. Print.

Wolpoff, Milford H., and Rachel Caspari. Race and Human Evolution. (page36-47)
New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997. Print.