How Long Have People Lived on Earth?

Question

If you saw my other question like this one, it's also for the same project.

Answer 1

Let’s assume that you mean our species: Homo sapiens and not some of the other human-like fossil forms such as Homo neanderthalensis, Homo floresiensis, or Homo erectus.

You will get two sets of answers to this question: (A-about 195,000 years ago and B-about 6000 years ago).

The oldest well-dated Homo sapiens skulls have been found in Ethiopia which is a country in Africa. The argon/argon radiometric dating method and analysis of sedimentary layers correlated with climate information put the age of the skulls at about 195,000 years old(source A). A few years earlier, skulls from another Ethopian site were dated as between 160,000 and 154,000 years old by the argon/argon method and the chemical correlation of volcanic layers method (source B). Biochemists studying changes in the DNA in human mitochondria (passed on by mothers), came up with an estimated date of 170,000 years ago for the time when a common a common female ancestor lived on the Earth. If you want a more detailed summary of current scientific thought about the early history of Homo sapiens and other Homo species, go to the New Scientist article at Source C url or a timeline at Source D.

Many religious people who believe that all parts of the Bible are completely accurate descriptions of the Earth's history, believe that the Earth is only about 6000 years old and that humans first appeared on Earth very soon afterwards. For instance, when they read that God created the Earth and all life in six days, some people interpret that time as six 24 hour days. They also believe that the writers of the Bible didn't leave out any generations when they recorded some of the family trees of people in the Bible. So, some people believe very strongly that the Earth and the first people on Earth weren't around before about 6000 years ago. On the other hand, many equally religious people (including many Christians) read the same words in the Bible and interpret them as beautiful, poetic descriptions of God's creation-but they don't have a problem also accepting the scientific evidence that the Earth is billions of years old and that the first humans appeared on Earth more than 100,000 years ago.

Answer 2

How Long Have I Lived

Answer 3

When you say "people", are you talking exclusively about homo sapiens?

The oldest verified hominid fossils found were app 7 million years old. These creatures somewhat resembled chimps, but with many features found in our upright-walking ancestors.

"People" is a vague term. You need to be precise when asking questions like this.

Good luck to you.

Answer 4

By "people" I am assuming you mean modern man species Homo Sapiens - our species has been around for anywhere from 125000-200000 years. Maybe more maybe less.

Please ignore the bible thumpers...they still think the Bible was faxed down from heaven central (in the King James version of course).

Answer 5

This question is impossible to be exact on, as far as i know, but somewhere around 6000 years. This is figured up from the generations in the Bible- 4000 years before Christ and 2000 after. Hope this helps!

Answer 6

Since 0001

Answer 7

About 100,000 years.

Answer 8

over 2006 years

Answer 9

Since God created them, from the sixth day of the Earth.

Answer 10

about 50 thousand years and over half who have ever lived, are still alive today due to our huge population