Year in Review Anthropology

2021 research reinforced that mating across groups drove human evolution

Fossils and DNA point to mixing and mingling among Homo groups across vast areas

a photo showing a fossilized aprtial jaw and braincase

Fossil discoveries reported this year, including a partial jaw (left) and braincase (right) from Israel, supported an idea that mating among many widespread but closely related Homo groups fostered human evolution.

Tel Aviv Univ.

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Evidence that cross-continental Stone Age networking events powered human evolution ramped up in 2021.