Migration of Modern Humans

The story of human migration along the southern coast of Asia, known as the Southern Dispersal scenario, begins over 70,000 years ago. Modern humans, Homo sapiens, began their journey from Africa, with a small group crossing the Bab-el-Mandeb strait from East Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. This crossing was significant as it marked the beginning of their rapid expansion along the coastlines of Asia.

As they moved along the Arabian coast, early humans developed a versatile subsistence strategy, utilizing resources from the intertidal zone. This area, rich in marine life such as fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, provided a sustainable food source. Evidence supporting this way of life comes from the ancient Pleistocene reef near Abdur in Eritrea. Here, remains of a complex coastal biotic community were found, including corals, oyster shells, and other marine organisms. Mixed with these remains were tools made of obsidian, quartz, and fine volcanic stone, indicating that humans had been exploiting the coastal resources for food over 100,000 years ago.

Continuing their journey, the migrants spread from the Arabian Peninsula into Persia and India. This coastal route allowed them to travel relatively quickly, reaching India within a few thousand years. The migration left a genetic footprint, notably through mitochondrial DNA haplogroups M and N, and Y-DNA haplogroups such as F, C, and D, which are prevalent in these regions.

From India, the migration extended further into Southeast Asia and Oceania. This phase of the journey, spanning Sundaland and Sahul, showcases the adaptability and resilience of early humans as they colonized diverse and distant lands. By 50,000 years ago, human populations had reached as far as New Guinea and Australia, with descendants eventually spreading into East Asia and later the Americas.

This narrative of the Southern Dispersal scenario underscores the importance of coastal environments in early human migration and the significant genetic, archaeological, and ecological evidence that supports this theory.