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Ancient

First Humans Spotted in Africa!

Around 300,000 years ago, Homo sapiens first appeared on the African continent

Published in 30000012 min read

Cover Story

On the Ground: Birth of the First Humans

300,000 BCE, at the eastern edge of the African continent in what is now Morocco, an unprecedented event unfolded. A new being appeared — with a broader forehead, larger brain capacity, and a skilled hand for tools. These were

our ancestors: Homo sapiens. From today's perspective, this moment was the greatest birth event on Earth. They could light fires, communicate through language, and plan for the future. The dawn of human history was breaking.

Field Report

Field Report: Jebel Irhoud Excavation Site

Dr. Jean-Paul Bernard | Archaeology Correspondent

Our correspondent visited the Jebel Irhoud excavation site in southern Morocco. Skull and dental fossils found here by an international research team in 2017 pushed back the timeline of modern humans by 100,000 years. The excavation director told us: 'This discovery redrew the map of human history as we knew it.'

Historian's Analysis

Historian's Analysis: Why Africa?

Africa is called the cradle of humanity. Climatically and ecologically, it offered ideal conditions for early human evolution. The vast savanna regions were perfect for developing upright walking and group hunting, and diverse plant food sources were abundant. Genetic analysis shows that all living humans trace back to a single ancestral population in Africa.

— Prof. Amara Diallo, Université de Dakar

Timeline

Timeline of Human Evolution

7 million BCE

Divergence from common ancestor with chimpanzees

4 million BCE

Australopithecus appears

2 million BCE

Homo erectus appears, begins leaving Africa

300,000 BCE

Homo sapiens appears (Morocco)

70,000 BCE

Major Out-of-Africa migration begins

40,000 BCE

Reaches Europe, replaces Neanderthals

15,000 BCE

Reaches the Americas

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Today's Humor

When Homo sapiens first discovered fire, the friend next to them asked: 'Is that safe?'

Reader's Letters

Reading this article made me realize how far humanity has come. The fact that we all came from Africa is astonishing.

— Min-jun Kim, Seoul

I can't believe Homo sapiens appeared 300,000 years ago. How much must the Earth have changed in all that time?

— Ji-young Lee, Busan

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