¶ … Real Eve is a multimedia educational project sponsored by the Discovery Channel and displayed on Discovery.com. The purpose of the project is to compile new scientific, archaeological evidence about the origins and evolution of human beings and human culture. The prevailing beliefs of a decade ago are no longer applicable, and the Discovery Channel is doing a good job of making new scientific knowledge accessible to the general public. According to the website, new evidence suggests that the human migratory pattern was far different from what was once believed; climatological evidence suggests that humans left Africa for Europe much later than was previously thought. Also at the core of the new research is genetic evidence, focusing on a particular ancient human specimen named "Eve."
As the name suggests, Eve is a sort of prototypical female, an ancestor to modern human beings who lived in Africa an astonishing 100,000 years ago. The evidence shows that Eve and her progeny moved not northward as was once thought by Euro-centric researchers, but southward, to Yemen and then through India, Australia, and finally Europe. Some scientists claim that there was only one geographic route and that it was definitely not through the African deserts northward into Europe.
Besides being a fascinating tale of human evolution, "The Real Eve" also dispels many myths prevalent in archaeology. These myths include that of a Euro-centric worldview in which some distant African ancestor quickly left home for the European continent. This view was probably supported by academic elite which tended to view the cultures of Africa, Asia, and Australia as being primitive and somewhat inferior to the cultures of ancient Europe. Therefore, "The Real Eve" provides scientific evidence that can empower and elevate these cultures to a well-deserved position of status as being the primogenitors of all modern civilizations.
