The evidence of the earliest 'Homo Sapiens' have been found in :

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

The universally accepted scientific consensus, supported by extensive fossil and genetic evidence, is that the earliest evidence of modern humans, *Homo sapiens*, is found in **Africa**. This is often referred to as the "Out of Africa" theory. Early discoveries, such as the Omo Kibish remains in Ethiopia (dating back approximately 195,000 years) and the more recent Jebel Irhoud findings in Morocco (dating to about 300,000 years ago), confirm Africa as the cradle of humankind. All subsequent human populations across the globe descended from these African ancestors who began migrating out of the continent tens of thousands of years later.

The incorrect option is 1:
Europe is incorrect because it was one of the last continents to be colonized by *Homo sapiens*. While Europe is famous for Paleolithic sites, the early inhabitants were Neanderthals, and modern humans arrived much later, around 40,000 to 45,000 years ago.

The incorrect option is 3:
Australia is incorrect as its settlement occurred via migration from Asia, generally dated to about 65,000 years ago. The ancestors of Indigenous Australians were descendants of the African populations that had already migrated out of the continent.

The incorrect option is 4:
Asia is incorrect, although it was the first continent settled by modern humans after leaving Africa. The fossil record indicates that earlier hominid species lived there, but the oldest evidence of anatomically modern *Homo sapiens* originated in Africa before spreading into Asia.