Question

What does the African Replacement Hypothesis claim?

1) Modern sapiens evolved from archaic sapiens in Africa and then spread throughout the world.
2) Modern sapiens evolved from archaic sapiens in Asia and then spread throughout the world.
3) Modern sapiens evolved from archaic sapiens in Europe and then spread throughout the world.
4) Modern sapiens evolved independently in different regions of the world.

Answer 1

The African Replacement Hypothesis claims that modern humans evolved in Africa and spread globally, replacing other human species. This is supported by genetic data and archaeological evidence, indicating complexities like interbreeding with Neanderthals.

Step-by-step explanation:

The African Replacement Hypothesis claims that modern sapiens evolved from archaic sapiens in Africa and then spread throughout the world. According to this hypothesis, also known as the "out of Africa" model, modern humans emerged first in Africa approximately 200,000 years ago, and then around 100,000 years ago, they expanded out of Africa, dispersing globally and replacing other human species.

This theory is supported by both archaeological evidence and genetic data, which indicate interbreeding between early humans and Neanderthals during their migration from Africa. These conclusions continue to evolve as new discoveries in archaeology and molecular genetics shed light on the complex history of human evolution.