Since there is clear evidence that Humans migrated out of Africa at least 100,000 years ago (and possibly 180,000 years ago), that theory has never made sense to me, either.
Ever notice that every new discovery pushes back the timeline?
Also, there is significant evidence that Neanderthals evolved outside of Africa, and there is no question that almost all modern European and Asian humans have some Neanderthal DNA.
Neanderthals lived outside of Africa, but I wouldn't necessarily say evolved.
Possibly.
Every source I have read on the subject says Neanderthal “emerged” from Africa, but there seems to be scant fossil and DNA evidence to back that up.
As far as I know, no Neanderthal fossils have ever been found in sub-Saharan Africa, and only a few tribes in that region carry Neanderthal DNA.
I have read that Neanderthal fossils have been found in North Africa, but I've never seen them dated.
In sharp contrast, the fossil and DNA record of Neanderthals in Asia and Europe is very large.
From my own reading, I think a good case can be made that Neanderthal evolved from Homo Erectus in southwest Asia about 500,000 years ago, and that all the Neanderthal fossils and DNA in Africa arrived from the outside.