Commenting on the Need for Rock Solid Pre-Historical Models: Exposing the Inadequacies of the Out of Africa Theory
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to revisit the ongoing debates and controversies regarding the origin and evolution of humans, and also to evaluate the various pros and cons associated with various versions of the Out of Africa model, and the multiregional hypothesis, given that these are the two major classes of models in common intellectual discourse and debate. We would also like to state and declare emphatically at this juncture that there is inadequate or insufficient evidence to jump to grand conclusions. Instead, the only viable path forward would be to synthesize data from across a wide variety of fields, and develop rock solid and robust interdisciplinary models that can be further refined as more and more data emerges. This approach would serve the best interests of science and scientific progress. We also propose the wholly independent multiregional model, with evolutionary paths taking place across Africa, Europe and Asia, and complex, multiple and divergent ways, with oversimplification posing a major obstacle to scientific progress. We also show that many species from the dawn of life have been universal or near universal, but this may be because different species around the world may be subject to similar evolutionary pressures, and may therefore have pursued similar evolutionary paths. Of course, migrations would always be possible given the scarce fossil records of early humans in Australia, and in North and in South America, but these must be justified on a case to case basis, and must not be beyond the realm of possibility taking into account geographical barriers and technological constraints.
