BBC Focus Magazine

[Healerman]

A series of new archaeological discoveries in the Sultanate of Oman, nestled in the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, reveals the timing and identity of one of the first modern human groups to migrate out of Africa, according to a research article.
An international team of archaeologists and geologists working in the Dhofar Mountains of southern Oman, led by Dr. Jeffrey Rose of the University of Birmingham, report finding over 100 new sites classified as "Nubian Middle Stone Age (MSA)." Distinctive Nubian MSA stone tools are well known throughout the Nile Valley; however, this is the first time such sites have ever been found outside of Africa. According to the authors, the evidence from Oman provides a "trail of stone breadcrumbs" left by early humans migrating across the Red Sea on their journey out of Africa. "After a decade of searching in southern Arabia for some clue that might help us understand early human expansion, at long last we've found the smoking gun of their exit from Africa," says Rose. "What makes this so exciting," he adds, "is that the answer is a scenario almost never considered." These new findings challenge long-held assumptions about the timing and route of early human expansion out of Africa.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 171049.htm

These finds put the first modern humans leaving Africa somewhat earlier than is suggested by DNA. Are someones dates wrong?
I am often worried by this clear cut division between Home erectus leaving Africa in one exodus, only to be supplanted by the subsequent exodus of Homo sapiens. It seems far more likely that some level of migratory movement will have gone on throughout this spread of history, whilst evolution carried on apace. So are these tools that have been found, exclusive to H. sapiens or was there some cultural cross-fertilisation between different groups. What's needed now, are some remains in association with these tool finds, to establish for sure who left them there. What are the chances?

[Liam Sheppard]

I think that erectus had died out before Modern man spread into Asia, and although they had tools, it is apparently possible to tell the difference between modern human tools and erectus tools.

The theory of Humans migrating out of Africa 80,000 years ago across the horn of Africa into the Arabian is not a new one. (Stephen Oppenheimee mentions it in his book 'Out of Eden-the peopleing of the world)

The Archaeology shows that Modern Humans left Africa to the Levant, but that this 1st migration failed and there is no DNA legacy from these 1st pioneers.

I think it is then Argued that there were 2 or 3 migrations out of Africa within 20,ooo years? There was lots of geographical variables that made this possible, for many years the Levant was desert and impassable, but during an inter-glacial period it trned to grassland and modern man followed the game into The middle east, and then onwards. Everyone outside of Africa is now related to a single Male and Female line, due to genetic shift. I think these founder lines are referred to as Seth, Cain and Abel.

Seth and Cain being the two lines that peopled the rest of the world.

in theory, there has only been one or two opportunities since the LAST GLACIAL MAXIMUM that allowed homo Sapiens to travel out of Africa via either the Horn of Africa to Arabia or through the fertile crescent of the Levant.

Although probably out of date a little now, I recommend the book I mention, Just finished it, it was a great read.