The Polycentric Bush: Reimagining Early-to-Middle Pleistocene Homo Evolution

A new model of early-to-Middle Pleistocene Homo evolution challenges the traditional linear, single-species narrative centered on Homo erectus. The 'polycentric bush' model proposes a complex, dynamic landscape with multiple coexisting Homo lineages across Africa, Asia, and Europe, characterized by significant morphological variation and chronological overlap. This study integrates paleontological, archaeological, and genetic evidence from key sites like Zhoukoudian, Dmanisi, and the Rising Star Cave system to argue for adaptive radiations, interbreeding events, and reticulate evolution, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of human origins.

Revista, Z., & HISTORY, 10. (2025). The Polycentric Bush: Reimagining Early-to-Middle Pleistocene Homo Evolution. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.17790972