Summary of CARTA Presents The Origins of Today's Humans - Homo Sapiens Origins: When "Moderns" Were "Archaic"

00:00:00 - 00:20:00

This video discusses the origins of the human species, Homo sapiens. It presents a chart of human evolution and notes that the species originated in Africa. The presenter also discusses the origins of the term "Modern Humans," noting that it is not an accurate description of the species because they are not cladistically or behaviorally modern. The video discusses the study of fossils from Jebel Irhoud, which has led to the identification of the earliest known form of Homo sapiens. This discovery challenges the long-held view that Neanderthals are the ancestors of modern humans.

• 00:00:00 The video presents a chart of human evolution, illustrating that there have always been several species of human on Earth. It notes that the human species, Homo sapiens, originated in Africa and has been successful in spreading throughout the world. The presenter also discusses the origins of the term "Modern Humans," noting that it is not an accurate description of the species because they are not cladistically or behaviorally modern.
• 00:05:00 The paleo-anthropologist discussing this discovery states that the site of Jebel Irhoud in Morocco has been known for a long time because it was discovered in the early 60s when the exploitation of baryte mines revealed an archeological site. The site was passed on to a professor of paleontology at the University of Robert, and when he and his team excavated the site, they found insitu sequence of about three meter of archeological deposits which they were able to date with thermoluminescence. Additionally, they found new hominins in the site including a partial scull, a fragmentary phase, and an adult mandible that is fairly well preserved. The mandible is unlike any other found in Africa and is believed to be from a Western Eurasian clade.
• 00:10:00 The study of fossils from Jebel Irhoud has led to the identification of the earliest known form of Homo sapiens, which lived in Africa around 200,000 years ago. This discovery challenges the long-held view that Neanderthals are the ancestors of modern humans. The brain size and shape of the Jebel Irhoud hominins are similar to those of modern humans, but their brain morphology began diverging sharply around 400,000 years ago.
• 00:15:00 The video discusses how the cerebellum, which is located in the back of the brain, has evolved over time and is now involved in more complex tasks than previously thought. It also discusses the presence of Homo sapiens on different continents, including Africa, and how this might suggest that the species evolved in more than one place. However, due to the lack of fossils to support this theory, it remains unclear exactly when and where Homo sapiens originated.
• 00:20:00 The video discusses the origins of humans, and explains that while it is possible to reconstruct the past based on present day populations, this is often misleading due to the evolution of different groups of humans over time. It also mentions the existence of episodes in which advantageous mutations or innovations may have passed between groups of humans.