Homo sapiens dispersals out of Africa

The timing and number of early dispersals of Homo sapiens out of Africa is a matter of great interest and debate. Broad consensus exists that the major dispersal of early modern humans started 70-50 thousand years ago (ka), reaching the Near East by 60 ka and Europe by 45 ka, and eventually replacing archaic humans around the world. However, a well documented population of early Homo sapiens is known to have lived in the Near East already by 130-100 ka, raising the possibility of earlier dispersals and potential interactions between early modern humans and other Pleistocene hominins. Recent evidence indicating an earlier and more geographically widespread dispersal event of early Homo sapiens will be presented.