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Master Timeline for The Adam Paradox Hypothesis
Deep Prehistory – Geological & Evolutionary Context
~3–2 mya – Homo erectus disperses from Africa, early stone tools,
controlled fire.
~800–400 kya – Homo heidelbergensis, large-brain hominin, possible
ancestor of modern humans, Neanderthals, Denisovans.
~400–200 kya – Regional Neanderthals and Denisovans evolve in Eurasia.
Anatomical Modernity
~315 kya – Jebel Irhoud fossils (Morocco) show early anatomically modern
humans.
~195 kya – Omo Kibish fossils (Ethiopia), among the oldest Homo sapiens.
~160 kya – Herto fossils (Ethiopia), transitional modern humans.
~120–90 kya – Skhul/Qafzeh burials (Levant), earliest known symbolic
burials.
Silent Millennia – Anatomy without Symbols
~300–80 kya – Anatomically modern humans exist, but with very limited
symbolic culture (few beads, ochre use, ephemeral sparks).
Populations remain small, local, and behaviorally conservative.
Threshold of Adam (Symbolic Ignition)
~70 kya – Sudden, global leap in symbolic behavior:
Cave art, ornaments, composite tools, ritual burials.
Cognitive revolution (language, myth, contracts, ethics).
Qur
ʾānic beacon:
“He taught Adam the names—all of them” (Q 2:31).
Genetic triggers (FOXP2, HAR1, SRGAP2C regulatory networks) likely
sweep.
Dispersal & Synchrony
~70–60 kya – Homo sapiens migrate rapidly out of Africa, replacing archaic
hominins.
~55–45 kya – Settlement of Europe, Australia; symbolic artifacts appear
globally.
~40 kya – Cave paintings (Chauvet, France); portable art, figurines, ritual
objects.
~35–30 kya – Neanderthals disappear; no independent symbolic ignition
outside Homo sapiens.