I think it's supposed to be c. 5000, although most of the c. 2500
females in the group didn't leave a direct line that has survived to
this day, nor did most of the male lines. The latest theory is that
a massive volcanic eruption in (I think) Java caused massive
flooding and coastline shifts (the "Great Flood" found in many
origin myths?) and blocked out the sun etc. like the later Thera
eruption is supposed to have done in the Aegean. The species almost
became extinct, and this is why humans are such a "small" species
genetically even though we have multiplied like rabbits. The
variation genetically is much smaller than what is to be expected in
a population as large as we are.
--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Peter P" <peterp@...> wrote:
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "S & L" <mbusines@...> wrote:
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Peter P
> > Sent: Sunday, November 09, 2003
> > Subject: [tied] Re: language shift ( it was Celts & Cimmerians)
> > ... aren't we all decended from a few hundred
> > (maybe thousand) emigrants from Africa? ...
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > Speaking English ? :-)
> >
> > S o r i n
> >
> > P.S. Sorry, I could not resist ...
>
> Don't be sorry... Good point.
>
> Peter P