The scenario of Homo sapiens origin/s within Africa has become increasingly complex, with a pan-African perspective currently challenging the long-established single-origin hypothesis. In this paper, we review the lines of evidence employed in support of each model, highlighting inferential limitations and possible terminological misunderstandings. We argue that the metapopulation scenario envisaged by pan-African proponents well describes a mosaic diversification among late Middle Pleistocene groups. However, this does not rule out a major contribution that emerged from a single population where crucial derived features-notably, a globular braincase-appeared as the result of a punctuated, cladogenetic event. Thus, we suggest that a synthesis is possible and propose a scenario that, in our view, better reconciles with consolidated expectations in evolutionary theory. These indicate cladogenesis in allopatry as an ordinary pattern for the origin of a new species, particularly during phases of marked climatic and environmental instability.

Pan-Africanism vs. single-origin of Homo sapiens. Putting the debate in the light of evolutionary biology / Meneganzin, Andra; Pievani, Telmo; Manzi, Giorgio. - In: EVOLUTIONARY ANTHROPOLOGY. - ISSN 1520-6505. - 31:4(2022), pp. 199-212. [10.1002/evan.21955]

Pan-Africanism vs. single-origin of Homo sapiens. Putting the debate in the light of evolutionary biology

Giorgio Manzi
2022

Abstract

The scenario of Homo sapiens origin/s within Africa has become increasingly complex, with a pan-African perspective currently challenging the long-established single-origin hypothesis. In this paper, we review the lines of evidence employed in support of each model, highlighting inferential limitations and possible terminological misunderstandings. We argue that the metapopulation scenario envisaged by pan-African proponents well describes a mosaic diversification among late Middle Pleistocene groups. However, this does not rule out a major contribution that emerged from a single population where crucial derived features-notably, a globular braincase-appeared as the result of a punctuated, cladogenetic event. Thus, we suggest that a synthesis is possible and propose a scenario that, in our view, better reconciles with consolidated expectations in evolutionary theory. These indicate cladogenesis in allopatry as an ordinary pattern for the origin of a new species, particularly during phases of marked climatic and environmental instability.
2022
anagenesis versus cladogenesis; mosaic evolution; pan-African hypothesis; punctuationism; single-origin hypothesis; speciation of Homo sapiens
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Pan-Africanism vs. single-origin of Homo sapiens. Putting the debate in the light of evolutionary biology / Meneganzin, Andra; Pievani, Telmo; Manzi, Giorgio. - In: EVOLUTIONARY ANTHROPOLOGY. - ISSN 1520-6505. - 31:4(2022), pp. 199-212. [10.1002/evan.21955]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1691676
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