The story of how Homo sapiens left Africa is more complicated than we once thought.
Fossils suggest our species reached parts of Eurasia far earlier than the major migration traditionally dated to around 60,000 years ago. So who were these early pioneers and why did their populations disappear?
In this video, we explore the latest fossil, archaeological and genetic evidence reshaping the Out of Africa model. From a 210,000-year-old Homo sapiens skull found in Greece to evidence that our species may have evolved through interconnected populations across Africa, a new picture of human origins is emerging.
We also investigate a fascinating possibility: that stronger social networks, and the exchange of ideas and new technologies, helped Homo sapiens become adaptable enough to thrive in environments across the planet.
The story of humanity may not be of one great migration, but a long history of exploration, failure, connection and, eventually, survival.