Which statement about fossil evidence is true?

• A. The oldest modern humans originated in Africa
• B. The oldest modern humans originated in Europe
• C. Fossils prove humans originated in Asia first
• D. Fossils provide no information about human evolution

Answer: (A)

Fossil evidence shows where anatomically modern humans first appeared and how they spread. The oldest known fossils of modern humans are found in Africa, dating to roughly 200,000 to 300,000 years ago. That places Africa as the origin according to the fossil record. Later fossils in Europe and Asia reflect later migrations out of Africa, not the initial place where modern humans began. So, the statement that the oldest modern humans originated in Africa fits the evidence from fossils and explains how later populations moved to other regions. Fossils do provide information about human evolution, so the idea that they offer no information isn’t correct.