Researchers using DNA extracted from an ancient skull discovered in the Ethiopian highlands have revealed that there was a mass movement of humans back into Africa from Eurasia around 3000 years ago, some 57,000 years after the mass migration off the continent.

The  Ethiopian highlands.
The Ethiopian highlands. <span class="media-attribution">Image by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/120420083@N05/16706858339/in/photolist-puVPjC-pft765-pwY1Xv-pfsLxg-pftBtS-4JAc2H-qmixG4-5Gr4PL-dkdnhy-4JhaEk-rsk1VH-dkdtso-dkdi6w-rDhWkm-rRaiS6-5fqW4y-4K3Mt1-7tshS5-bTwp2k-dnKNjq-pftP6P-pft4Um-pwWeP3-pft5a1-pfsKzp-pftNDM-ropEv1-qW896u-5LJmCQ-rdxfVD-rdFXVn-4JmoMQ-4EbLwu-4JhagB-4EaPCF-4Kc93a-4AMhbd-4JhGfu-6qmh1o-6qhjyz-6qmpuG-6qmsew-4Km2yW-4NEV2X-4Lw3kk-4Jhaei-4JhabK-4JmnDG-ebzzpS-cpznid" target="_blank" rel="external">SarahTz</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/uk/" target="_blank" rel="external">CC BY 2.0</a></span>

The scientists, who published their findings in the journal Science, believe that up to 25% of modern Africans’ DNA can be traced back to this event. Read more: bbc.co.uk

Explore related stories

Exiting the Okavango Delta in Botswana  by mokoro ; Shutterstock ID 1518095048; your: Brian Healy; gl: 65050; netsuite: Lonely Planet Online Editorial; full: When to visit Botswana

The ultimate guide to tipping in Africa

Sep 27, 2024 • 3 min read