March 11, 2008

Ancient lineage of modern humans

Journal of Human Evolution (Article in Press) doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2007.10.010

Human cranial diversity and evidence for an ancient lineage of modern humans

Michael A. Schillaci

Abstract

This study examines the genetic affinities of various modern human groupings using a multivariate analysis of morphometric data. Phylogenetic relationships among these groupings are also explored using neighbor-joining analysis of the metric data. Results indicate that the terminal Pleistocene/early Holocene fossils from Australasia exhibit a close genetic affinity with early modern humans from the Levant. Furthermore, recent human populations and Upper Paleolithic Europeans share a most recent common ancestor not shared with either the early Australasians or the early Levantine humans. This pattern of genetic and phylogenetic relationships suggests that the early modern humans from the Levant either contributed directly to the ancestry of an early lineage of Australasians, or that they share a recent common ancestor with them. The principal findings of the study, therefore, lend support to the notion of an early dispersal from Africa by a more ancient lineage of modern human prior to 50 ka, perhaps as early as OIS 5 times (76–100 ka).

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2 comments:

Unknown said...

Does the study refer which route did the ancestors of Upper Paleolithic Europeans took?
Since the Levant is excluded which alternative there is?

Crimson Guard said...

Didnt Dr. Brace find that the Greek skull was closer to the "Cromagnon" supposedly?

I remember some genetic test on Cro-Magnon remains in Italy..it said they were more "Near Eastern Affiliation".

http://dienekes.50webs.com/blog/archives/000200.html

Also that the ancient Basques had a more Near Eastern affiliation than the modern ones.

http://dienekes.blogspot.com/2005/03/prehistoric-basques-were-closer-to.html