Lecture 14

Question 1

Multiregional theory

Answer 1

• ‘Traditional’ version: independent multiple
  origins/parallel evolution of Homo sapiens
  across Old World
  i.e. local populations of Homo sapiens have
  very long prehistories, having evolved in situ
  since arrival of Homo erectus (sensu lato)
• Implications: modern day regional populations may have evolved to be very
  different from one another – unintended
  consequences of this hypothesis?
• BUT if different populations evolved independently in different ecosystems, how
  did they all end up so similar?
• More recent version emphasise continuous
  geneflow (i.e. interbreeding) between populations across the Old World, keeping
  all populations on the same track – just
  how plausible is this?
  Supported by evidence of interbreeding
  between modern humans, Neanderthals and
  Denisovans?
  Does mitigate the suggestion of long
  evolutionary timedepths for regional variation!
• If true, should be evidence of evolution into
  Homo sapiens in many of the regions where Homo erectus was found – is this the case?