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Human cranial diversity and evidence for an ancient lineage of modern humans. J Hum Evol. 2007 Dec 27
Schillaci
This study examines the genetic affinities of various modern human groupings using a multivariate analysis of morphometric data. Phylogenetic relationships among these groupings are also explored using neighbor-joining analysis of the metric data. Results indicate that the terminal Pleistocene/early Holocene fossils from Australasia exhibit a close genetic affinity with early modern humans from the Levant. Furthermore, recent human populations and Upper Paleolithic Europeans share a most recent common ancestor not shared with either the early Australasians or the early Levantine humans. This pattern of genetic and phylogenetic relationships suggests that the early modern humans from the Levant either contributed directly to the ancestry of an early lineage of Australasians, or that they share a recent common ancestor with them. The principal findings of the study, therefore, lend support to the notion of an early dispersal from Africa by a more ancient lineage of modern human prior to 50ka, perhaps as early as OIS 5 times (76-100ka).
Naga Def Wolofi Member # 14535
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^^^Makes sense since the first northern levantines around 55k + split off from the southern route and went into Europe.