A growing body of research suggests the origins of modern humans may have begun by the sea in southern Africa around 70,000 years ago, with early populations using coastal routes to eventually leave the continent. This theory challenges long-held views that humans first dispersed from eastern Africa.
A review published by a team of scientists argues that the southern Cape coast of what is now South Africa was likely the launching point for Homo sapiens’ global migration. The researchers believe that people from this region began moving along the eastern coastline before exiting Africa between 50,000 and 40,000 years ago.
Their findings are based on a range of evidence, including fossil records, genetics, climate patterns and archaeological discoveries.
Southern Africa as a launchpad for migration
Curtis Marean, one of the lead researchers, said this coastal region offered a unique survival advantage. Marine resources such as shellfish gave early humans a stable food supply, especially during periods of extreme cold and drought. Inland groups, dependent on hunting and foraging, may not have been as resilient during these environmental shifts.
Technological innovations such as the bow and arrow further set these coastal populations apart from other hominins. These tools, along with strong cultural adaptability, allowed them to thrive and eventually spread beyond Africa.
Sea level changes during ice ages also played a critical role. As oceans receded, the Red Sea narrowed, potentially easing passage to the Arabian Peninsula. At the same time, a broad coastal plain emerged along the southern Cape, expanding habitable land and food access.
How the origins of humans may have begun by the sea
Researchers believe these early humans possessed the cognitive ability to read lunar cycles, which may have helped them time trips to the shoreline to collect marine resources. However, competition for these coastal areas could have sparked conflicts, possibly leading some groups to migrate northward.
The review notes that while the world faced severe climate disruptions — including a long cold spell from 190,000 to 130,000 years ago and the Toba super-eruption about 74,000 years ago — southern Cape populations endured. Sites like Pinnacle Point, Blombos and Klasies River have revealed symbolic art and advanced tools, signaling cultural growth during this time.
These communities carried highly developed technology as they moved north, with tools that were more advanced than those used by other groups they encountered. The evidence positions the southern African coast not just as a place of survival, but as a possible starting point in the long journey of modern humans.
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