Before Farming

On the origin of modern humans in China

Before Farming (2010), 2010, (4), 1–6.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3828/bfarm.2010.4.6
Language
English
Pages
6

Abstract

The Recent Out of Africa Hypothesis (ROAH) has been prevalent for more than 20 years, but no valid explanation of its incompatibility with the fossil hominin record of east Asia has yet been provided. Several metrical and non-metrical features indicate obvious differences between eastern and western Eurasia in human populations earlier than AMHs (anatomically modern humans), which cannot be explained by the ROAH. Similarly, the fact that many disparities exist between Africa and east Asia is more likely due to regional continuity instead of genetic drift. The alleged ‘missing link’ in the east Asian fossil sequence does not exist. The morphological features shown in some hominid remains in China may imply inheritance from Neanderthals whose easternmost range was South Siberia, close to Shuidonggou in north west China, which made it geographically possible for them to interbreed with east Asian indigenous peoples. Moreover, the Palaeolithic tradition in China was consistently Mode I until the late Pleistocene and is quite different from that of Africa and Europe where the Palaeolithic developed from Mode I through Mode V. What happened in east Asia might be very different from Europe where the genetic contribution of Neanderthals was small, and they were mainly replaced by immigrant H. sapiens. Modern humans of East Asia might be mainly derived from the indigenous population, but also absorbed genetic contributions from other parts of the world.

Access Token

FormatArticle

£25.00
ReferencesPDF

Bae, CJ 2010. The late Middle Pleistocene hominin fossil record of eastern Asia: synthesis and review. Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 53:75-93. The late Middle Pleistocene hominin fossil record of eastern Asia: synthesis and review Yearbook of Physical Anthropology 53 75 93 Google Scholar

Chu, JY 1998. Genetic relationship of populations in China. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA 95:11763-11768. Genetic relationship of populations in China Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences USA 95 11763 11768 Google Scholar

Jin, CZ, Pan, WS, Zhang, YQ, Cai, YJ, Xu, QQ, Tang, ZL, Wang, W, Wang, Y, Liu, J Y, Qin, DG, Edwards, RL & Cheng, H 2009. The Homo sapiens Cave hominin site of Mulan Mountain, Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo, Guangxi with emphasis on its age. Chinese Science Bulletin 54:3848-3856. The Homo sapiens Cave hominin site of Mulan Mountain, Jiangzhou District, Chongzuo, Guangxi with emphasis on its age Chinese Science Bulletin 54 3848 3856 Google Scholar

Ke, YH, Su, B, Song, XF, Lu, DR, Chen, LF, Li, H Y, Qi, CJ, Marzuki, S, Deka, R, Underhill, P, Xiao, CJ, Shriver, M, Lell, J, Wallace, D, Wells, RS, Seielstad, M, Oefner, P, Zhu, DL, Jin, JZ, Huang, W, Chakraborty, R, Chen, Z & Jin, L 2001. African origin of modern humans in East Asia: A tale of 12,000 Y chromosomes. Science 292:1151-1153. African origin of modern humans in East Asia: A tale of 12,000 Y chromosomes Science 292 1151 1153 Google Scholar

Ke, YH, Su, B, Li, H Y, Chen, LF, Qi, CJ, Guo, XJ, Huang, W, Jin, JZ, Lu, DR & Jin, L 2001. Y Genetic evidence of Y chromosome supports the African origin of modern Chinese. Chinese Science Bulletin, 2001, 46(5):411-414(in Chinese) Y Genetic evidence of Y chromosome supports the African origin of modern Chinese Chinese Science Bulletin 46 411 414 Google Scholar

Kong, Q, Sun, C, Wang, H, Zhao, M, Wang, W, Zhong, L, Hao, X, Pan, H, Wang, S Y, Cheng, YT, Zhu, CL, Wu, SF, Liu, LN, Jin, JQ, Yao, YG & Zhang, YP 2010. Large-scale mtDNA screening reveals a surprising matrilineal complexity in East Asia and its implications to the peopling of the region. Molecular Biology and Evolution, August 16, 2010(Online). Large-scale mtDNA screening reveals a surprising matrilineal complexity in East Asia and its implications to the peopling of the region Molecular Biology and Evolution Google Scholar

Krause, J, Orlando, L, Serre, D, Viola, B, Prüfer, K, Richards, MP, Hublin, JJ, Hänni, C, Derevianko, AP & Pääbo, S 2007. Neanderthals in central Asia and Siberia. Nature 449:902-904. Neanderthals in central Asia and Siberia Nature 449 902 904 Google Scholar

Lahr, MM 1994. The Multiregional Model of modern human origins: a reassessment of its morphological basis. Journal of Human Evolution 26:23-56. The Multiregional Model of modern human origins: a reassessment of its morphological basis Journal of Human Evolution 26 23 56 Google Scholar

Liu, W, Jin, CZ, Zhang, YQ, Cai, YJ, Xing, S, Wu, XJ, Cheng, H, Edwards, RL, Pan, WS, Qin, DG, An, ZS, Trinkaus, E & Wu, XZ, 2010 Human remains from Zhirendong, South China, and modern human emergence in East Asia. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (USA) 107: 19201-19208. Human remains from Zhirendong, South China, and modern human emergence in East Asia Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences (USA) 107 19201 19208 Google Scholar

Madsen, DB, Li, JZ, Brantingham, PJ, Gao, X, Elston, RG & Bettinger, RL 2001. Dating Shuidonggou and Upper Paleolithic blade technology in North China. Antiquity 75:706-716 Dating Shuidonggou and Upper Paleolithic blade technology in North China Antiquity 75 706 716 Google Scholar

Pei, SW, Gao, X, Feng, X, Chen, FY & Dennell, R, 2010. Lithic assemblage from the Jingshuiwan Paleolithic site of early Late Pleistocene in the Three Gorge, China. Quaternary International 211:66-74. Lithic assemblage from the Jingshuiwan Paleolithic site of early Late Pleistocene in the Three Gorge, China Quaternary International 211 66 74 Google Scholar

Rightmire, G P 1998 Evidence from facial morphology for similarity of Asian and African representatives of Homo erectus. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 106:61-85. Evidence from facial morphology for similarity of Asian and African representatives of Homo erectus American Journal of Physical Anthropology 106 61 85 Google Scholar

Stringer, C 2002. Modern human origins: progress and prospects. Phil Trans R Soc Lond. B 357:563-579. Modern human origins: progress and prospects Phil Trans R Soc Lond. B 357 563 579 Google Scholar

Shang, H, Tong, H, Zhang, S, Chen, F & Trinkaus, E 2007. An early modern human from Tianyuan Cave, Zhoukoudian, China. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104:6573-6578. An early modern human from Tianyuan Cave, Zhoukoudian, China Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 104 6573 6578 Google Scholar

Su, B, Xiao, J, Underhill, P, Deka, R, Zhang, W, Akey, J, Huang, W, Shen, D, Lu, D, Luo, JC, Chu, J Y, Tan, JZ, Shen, PD, Davis, R, Cavalli-Sforza, L, Chakraborty, R, Xiong, MM, Du, RF, Oefner, P, Chen, Z & Jin, L 1999. Y-chromosome evidence for a northward migration of modern humans into Eastern Asia during the Last Ice Age. American Journal of Human Genetics 65:1718-1724. Y-chromosome evidence for a northward migration of modern humans into Eastern Asia during the Last Ice Age American Journal of Human Genetics 65 1718 1724 Google Scholar

Suzuki, H & Takai F 1970. The Amud Man and His Cave Site. Japan: The University of Tokyo. The Amud Man and His Cave Site Google Scholar

Wu, RK, Wu, XZ & Zhang, SS (eds) 1989. Early Humankind in China 1-437. Beijing: Science Press (in Chinese). Early Humankind in China 1-437 Google Scholar

Wu, RK, Zhang, YY & Wu, XZ 2002. Nanjing skull No.1 In Wu, RK, Li, XX, Wu, XZ & Mu, XN (eds) Homo Erectus from Nanjing. Jiangsu 261-273. Nanjing: Scientific and Technology Publishing House. Homo Erectus from Nanjing. Jiangsu 261 273 Google Scholar

Wu, XZ 2005. Discussion on the results of some molecular studies concerning the origin of modern Chinese. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 24:259-269 (in Chinese with English abstract). Discussion on the results of some molecular studies concerning the origin of modern Chinese Acta Anthropologica Sinica 24 259 269 Google Scholar

Wu, XZ & Poirier, FE 1995. Human Evolution in China A Metric Description of the Fossils and a Review of the Sites 1-217. New York: Oxford University Press. Human Evolution in China A Metric Description of the Fossils and a Review of the Sites 1-217 Google Scholar

Wu, XZ, Huang, WW & Qi, GQ 1999. Palaeolithic Sites in China 1-307. Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technological Education Publishing House (in Chinese). Palaeolithic Sites in China 1 307 Google Scholar

Zhang, SS 2001. Main achievements in archeology of Southwestern region of China and a discussion on the cultural types. In Su, B (ed) Binqi and Current Archeology of China 386-413. Beijing: Science Press (in Chinese). Binqi and Current Archeology of China 386 413 Google Scholar

If you have private access to this content, please log in with your username and password here

Details

Author details

Wu, Xinzhi

Cui, Yaming