How early Homo sapiens developed the “superpower” of adaptation
According to a recent study published in the journal Nature, Homo sapiens Homo sapiens had already mastered the art of adapting to harsh conditions long before they migrated out of Africa.
The study reveals that ancient humans displayed remarkable ecological flexibility, surviving in extreme environments such as dense rainforests and desert regions as early as 70,000 years ago, well before they undertook significant migrations.
“Our superpower is that we are an ecologically adaptable species”
“Our superpower is that we are an ecologically adaptable species,” commented Eleanor Scerri, an evolutionary archaeologist at the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology.
The researchers conducted the study by analyzing more than 300 archaeological sites across Africa, with dates ranging from 120,000 to 14,000 years ago. For each site, they calculated the local climatic conditions of the time and assessed the likely survival strategies employed.
According to the scientists, a significant shift occurred around 70,000 years ago when humans began to inhabit more extreme and challenging environments. “We noticed a clear indication that Homo sapiens could now survive in a variety of different ecosystems,” said Emily Hallett, an archaeologist at Loyola University of Chicago and co-author of the study. This adaptability provided them with an advantage when they began their migrations out of Africa about 50,000 years ago.
Previous theories suggested that successful human migrations were tied to technological innovation or social change, but clear archaeological evidence to support this has been lacking. This study proposes that it was not a novel tool or technique, but rather a wider adaptive capacity that made the difference.
Archaeologist William Banks of the University of Bordeaux, who was not involved in the study, points out that other human species, such as the Neanderthals, had also settled outside Africa. However, this new research illuminates why Homo sapiens possessed the necessary skills for such a broad dispersal.
“What we haven’t yet answered,” he adds, “is why we are ultimately the only human species to have survived.”
With information from Associated Press
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