Origin and evolution of genus Homo: Myths and milestones. Evolution of human genus with regard to the relation of Nenaderthals and anatomically modern humans
Abstract
Origin and evolution of genus Homo includes three basic phases: 1. Hominine differentiation at the end of tertiary and the origin of early Homo, 2.
Evolution of archaic Homo species, and the origin of Homo heidelbergensis/archaic Homo sapiens. 3. Differentiation of archaic Homo sapiens to neanderthals and anatomically modern humans (AMH) and human colonisation of the World.
Two independant human forms originated in the first phase, Homo habilis a¬Homo erectus/ergaster. They had appaered independantly,however.
Homo erectus/ergaster only was the direct ancestor of Homo sapiens. Neanderthals and AMH evolved at the end of Riss glaciation by the differencitation of archaic Homo sapiens.
Both groups developed independently – Neanderthals in Europe and Western Asia and AMH in Africa. Paleogenetic has contributed substantially to the understanding that AMH and Neanderthals were very close genetically and both groups could potencially interbreed.
Paleogenetic studies have proved that both groups had a¬common ancestor - Homo heidelbergensis/archaic Homo sapiens who has genetical disposition for human speach. Neanderthals came to the extinction after before-last glacial maximum, connected with supervolcano Toba magaerruption, while AMH had started to colonise World since 65 000 years.
Colonisation of Europe had begun approximately at 45 000 b.p. and AMH had co-existed here with Neanderthals for at least 10 000.