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Nanjing Man New age estimates on China's "Nanjing Man" (actually a male and a female skull classified as Homo erectus) scientists believe the fossils are between 580,000 and 620,000 years old. This is approximately 200,000 years older than originally thought. The dates are based on uranium/thorium dates on rocks above and below the fossils. The new dates indicate that migration of Homo erectus from Africa to China began earlier than originally thought. Supporters of the Multi-Regional Evolution hypothesis of modern human (Homo sapiens) origins are indicating that the new dates support their hypothesis. Actually the new date does not contribute directly to the debate since the Out of Africa hypothesis argues that Homo sapiens migrated 200,000 years from Africa and replacing earlier forms living in Europe and Asia. |