Continuity vs Strict Replacement or is human evolution a combination of the two?

Question

There are basically two hypotheses regarding Human Evolution especially when it comes to where Neanderthal fits into the picture - Continuity and Strict Replacement: I am interested in where people stand on this topic - personally, I am a Continuitist - I know many people are influenced on their stance by their Instructure's Point of View.

Answer 1

Continuity implies one branch that evolved without offshoots.  In fact we have discovered that Neanderthals for example are a side branch.  This is based on a couple of factors.  First the DNA extracted from some Neanderthal bones indicate they probably did not interbreed with H. sapiens.  Secondly, they tended to get less human like in more recent specimens.   Homo erectus (later versions anyway)  and Homo floresiensis provide two other examples of species that diverged from common ancestor. "Strict" replacement maybe too strong though I believe that replacement is the best explanation for most of human evolution.  It is similar to multi-regionalism though I think it is incorrect and nearly impossible that Asians evolved from H. erectus, Europeans from Neanderthals, and Africans from H. ergaster (etc).Rather, particular groups that evolved physical features or cultural characteristics which gave them an advantage spread their genes more effectively.  They didn't always come from Africa.  Almost certainly we evolved in Europe, Asia, and Africa simultaneously IMO.  The out of Africa Theory is almost a religion to some anthropologists however.

Answer 2

I do not know where you anthropologist get your information, but among biologist, " the out of Africa theory " is the one with the greatest empirical support. Two types of retro-linear DNA evidence and a recent comparative skull study along with the DNA studies rather clinches this. The other theories have more assertion than evidence in support of them.

Sometimes I forget that you social scientists have no overarching theory to guide you, such as the theory of natural selection, which guides biology.