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RUSSIA - A stone age archaeological site by the River Don in southern Russia has been identified as the earliest known settlement in Europe of modern humans.
It indicates that the first migration of modern humans out of sub-Saharan Africa occurred less than 50,000 years ago, which would make the inhabitants the earliest known ancestors of modern Europeans.
Researchers say the big surprise is the very early presence of modern humans in one of the coldest, driest places in Europe, an unexpected choice for people from Africa.
The discovery is published in the journal Science, alongside another study showing that a skull found in South Africa has been dated to about 35,000 years ago and bears a close resemblance to the skulls of Europeans in the stone age.
The skull was discovered near Hofmeyr, South Africa, in 1952. Latest dating techniques place it in the same time period when Europe was being populated by modern humans from Africa.
Both discoveries suggest that modern humans left Africa less than 50,000 years ago on a migration path that led them east to Asia and north to Europe.
Modern humans, Homo sapiens, are thought to have arisen in sub-Saharan Africa about 200,000 years ago. Previously, scientists thought they migrated out of Africa about 100,000 years ago.
Artefacts found at Kostenki include simple tools such as drills and awls, and a spade made from antlers.
The oldest evidence of modern humans outside Africa comes from Australian artefacts dating to about 50,000 years ago.
- INDEPENDENT
