Study Indicates that African Drought 70,000 Years Ago Nearly Caused Extinction of Humans. By Randolph E. Schmid, AP, April 24, 2008. "Human beings may have had a brush with extinction 70,000 years ago, an extensive genetic study suggests. The human population at that time was reduced to small isolated groups in Africa, apparently because of drought, according to an analysis released Thursday. The report notes that a separate study [PDF 11pp] by researchers at Stanford University estimated the number of early humans may have shrunk as low as 2,000 before numbers began to expand again in the early Stone Age. 'This study illustrates the extraordinary power of genetics to reveal insights into some of the key events in our species' history,' Spencer Wells, National Geographic Society explorer in residence, said in a statement. 'Tiny bands of early humans, forced apart by harsh environmental conditions, coming back from the brink to reunite and populate the world. Truly an epic drama, written in our DNA.'
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