Final answer:
Premodern H. sapiens fossils have been found in Africa dating as early as 200,000 years ago, aligning with the physical characteristics of modern humans and supporting the 'Out of Africa' model of human evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sites in Africa have produced premodern H. sapiens fossils dating to as early as 200,000 years ago. This period marked the existence of humans with the physical characteristics of our own species, Homo sapiens. Fossils from this era show individuals were tall, with rounded skulls, steep foreheads, well-developed chins, and their average cranial capacity was about 1,400 cubic centimeters, which is relatively similar to that of modern humans.
The “Out of Africa” model of human evolution suggests that modern humans emerged first in Africa around 200,000 years ago before expanding out of Africa around 100,000 years ago. This model is supported by evidence from fossil finds and genetic analysis, which show that early hominins of the genus Homo appeared between 2.5 and three million years ago.