Approximately how many years ago did modern Homo sapiens first appear in Africa?

• A. About 200,000 years ago
• B. About 10,000 years ago
• C. About 2 million years ago
• D. About 500,000 years ago

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of the question. The problem is asking about the approximate time when modern Homo sapiens first appeared in Africa. This requires knowledge of human evolution and anthropology.
2. Step 2: Recall that modern Homo sapiens are the species of humans that exist today, characterized by advanced cognitive abilities, tool use, and cultural development.
3. Step 3: Review the timeline of human evolution. Homo sapiens are believed to have evolved from earlier hominins in Africa. Fossil evidence and genetic studies suggest that modern Homo sapiens first appeared approximately 200,000 years ago.
4. Step 4: Eliminate incorrect options based on the timeline of human evolution. For example, 10,000 years ago is too recent, as humans were already widespread globally by then. Similarly, 2 million years ago and 500,000 years ago refer to earlier hominins like Homo erectus and archaic humans, not modern Homo sapiens.
5. Step 5: Select the correct answer based on the evidence: About 200,000 years ago. This aligns with fossil and genetic data indicating the emergence of anatomically modern humans in Africa.