Discovering humanity's cradle: why scientists have yet to pinpoint the origin of our species.

The most widely accepted theory of "Out of Africa" suggests that humans emerged on the African continent between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago before spreading across the globe. However, pinpointing the exact origin remains contentious, as there is evidence indicating a complex and interconnected ancestry, writes IFLScience.

Some researchers propose that the ancestral homeland of all humans is located south of the Zambezi River in modern-day Botswana. By analyzing the L0 mitochondrial DNA lineage in 1,217 individuals, scientists identified the Makgadikgadi-Okavango paleo-swamp as a key site. Once a vast lake twice the size of Lake Victoria, it transformed into a fertile wetland around 200,000 years ago.

According to the study, the first humans lived in this area for about 70,000 years before climate changes prompted migration through wet "green corridors" to other parts of Africa and beyond. While the research has garnered significant attention, some experts have questioned its conclusions. Skeptics argue that relying solely on limited genetic data may oversimplify the complex history of humanity.

Early skeletons, for instance, found in Ethiopia and other parts of East Africa, provide compelling evidence of eastern origins. These sites have yielded important findings related to both Homo sapiens and extinct human species, further underscoring the region's significance in shaping our evolutionary narrative.

Unexpected discoveries have also complicated the narrative. In Morocco, the oldest known remains of Homo sapiens, dated to 315,000 years, raise questions about the developmental stage of humanity in Africa. While few experts claim a North African origin, such finds suggest that early humans may have evolved in various regions of the continent rather than from a single "cradle of humanity."

Rather than emerging from a single population in one location, modern humans likely arose from interconnected groups scattered throughout Africa, which occasionally interbred and exchanged traits. Southern and Eastern Africa stand out as significant regions in this narrative, but the complete picture remains unknown.

We also covered a mass burial site discovered in London. Initially, scientists believed that those buried died of the plague; however, this is not the case.