Definition: The Out of Africa or African Replacement Hypothesis argues that every living human being is descended from a small group in Africa, who then dispersed into the wider world displacing earlier forms such as Neanderthal. Major proponents of this theory are led by Chris Stringer.
The Out-of-Africa theory was bolstered in the early 1990s by research on mitochondrial DNA studies by Allan Wilson and Rebecca Cann which suggest that all humans ultimately descended from one female: the Mitochondrial Eve. See "multi-regional hypothesis" for contrasting theory.
Rightmire, G. P. 2000 Middle Pleistocene humans from Africa. Human Evolution 15(1-2):63-74.
Rose, Jeffrey I. 2004 The Question of Upper Pleistocene Connections between East Africa and South Arabia. Current Anthropology 45(4):551-555.
Straus, Lawrence G. 1999 Iberia: Bridge or cul-de-sac? Implications of the Iberian record for the debate on the middle to upper paleolithic transition. Human Evolution 14(1-2):139-149.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
The Out-of-Africa theory was bolstered in the early 1990s by research on mitochondrial DNA studies by Allan Wilson and Rebecca Cann which suggest that all humans ultimately descended from one female: the Mitochondrial Eve. See "multi-regional hypothesis" for contrasting theory.
Sources
Gabunia, Leo, et al. 2001 Dmanisi and dispersal. Evolutionary Anthropology 10:158-170.Rightmire, G. P. 2000 Middle Pleistocene humans from Africa. Human Evolution 15(1-2):63-74.
Rose, Jeffrey I. 2004 The Question of Upper Pleistocene Connections between East Africa and South Arabia. Current Anthropology 45(4):551-555.
Straus, Lawrence G. 1999 Iberia: Bridge or cul-de-sac? Implications of the Iberian record for the debate on the middle to upper paleolithic transition. Human Evolution 14(1-2):139-149.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
Also Known As: African Replacement Hypothesis
