Early humans | Good News for Humankind

Humans invent language

By Peter Schulte / January 5, 1000 / Archive of Human Genius

The development of human language is one of the most significant achievements in our species’ history. This revolutionary leap, which likely began in Africa over 135,000 years ago, transformed our survival capabilities. Language enabled complex social cooperation, allowing early humans to coordinate intricate hunting and migration strategies. More profoundly, it provided the cognitive framework for cumulative learning and the building of cultural memory, paving the way for all subsequent human innovation and success.

Early humans reach and settle South Africa for first time

By Peter Schulte / January 4, 1000 / Archive of Human Genius

Southern Africa was first reached by Homo sapiens before 130,000 years ago, possibly before 260,000 years ago.

“Mitochondrial Eve” is born, probably somewhere in Africa

By Peter Schulte / January 4, 1000 / Archive of Human Genius

All mitochondrial genomes today should be traceable to a single woman, a ‘Mitochondrial Eve’. This woman, the researchers concluded, probably lived in Africa around 100,000 to 200,000 years ago.

Model of a female Australopithecus afarensis.

Y-chromosomal Adam, the most recent common ancestor of all males, is born

By Peter Schulte / January 3, 1000 / Archive of Human Genius

Y-chromosomal Adam is the name scientists give to the most recent common paternal ancestor of all living men. Genetic studies show that every Y chromosome today traces back to this individual, who lived in Africa around 200,000 to 300,000 years ago. His story is not about one man alone, but about the shared roots of humanity. By studying haplogroups and Y-chromosome mutations, researchers continue to refine when and where he lived. Y-chromosomal Adam reminds us that beneath all differences, we are deeply connected—a single family bound together across time by shared ancestry.

Humans intentionally use adhesives for the first time, perhaps in modern-day Italy

By Peter Schulte / January 2, 1000 / Archive of Human Genius

This groundbreaking innovation profoundly improved early human hunting and survival capabilities. The invention of glue allowed for the creation of superior composite tools. It laid the foundation for complex engineering and materials science thousands of years later.

Humanity learn to make their own fire, kindling a new era of possibility

By Peter Schulte / January 1, 1000 / Archive of Human Genius

While early members of the genus Homo had used fire opportunistically for ages (e.g. in the aftermath of a lightning strike), the ability to create it on their own using flint vastly expanded its availability and usefulness.

The Azores are discovered, possibly by Vikings

By Peter Schulte / October 31, 0700 / Archive of Human Genius

Although it was traditionally believed that Portuguese explorers were the first humans to arrive on the Azores – an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the Macaronesia region of the North Atlantic Ocean – there is evidence to suggest otherwise. Researchers have discovered that 5-beta-stigmasterol is present in sediment samples from between 700 and 850 C.E. This compound is found in the feces of livestock, such as sheep and cattle, neither of which are native to the islands. Additionally, mice on the Azores were discovered to have mitochondrial DNA suggesting they first arrived from Northern Europe, suggesting that they were brought to the islands by Norwegian Vikings.