Liber ab Exodus (Book of Departure)^71
In Africa, our ancestors huddled along the Southeast Coast. To survive, they changed
from hunter-gatherers to beachcombers. Shellfish and other seafood became their pri-
mary diet. Forced into smaller areas, their increasing population grew to a point where
the shores of Africa were no longer able to support them. A second attempt at exodus
became a matter of survival. From the East Coast of Africa at the Gates of Grief, the
sea level was 150 feet lower than it is today. From the African coast, one could look
across the Red Sea to see the green of the Yemen Mountains.The Second Exodus: Map Location 3
Approximately 78,000 B.C.E.
Approximately 3,500 Generations after Ash and ElmThe second exodus at about 78,000 BCE landed one community of people safely in
Yemen, on the East Coast of the Red Sea. This is the beginning of all humanity outside
of Africa. It was in essence the first New World. The community may have been as
small as 250 people. Within its small number were two women of unique importance to
this story. They were both descendants of our Elm as well as descendants of her off-
spring, Mitochondrial Eve. Their exodus from Africa is the single event that would
eventually lead to the population of every corner of the globe.
This is not saying that everyone who migrated from this point were the children of
these two women. However, before leaving the area of Yemen, about a thousand years
later, all people outside of Africa would carry the unique mitochondrial DNA of one of
these two women, if not passed on directly from one of the two, then from one of their
descendants intermixing DNA with another line.Migration Along the Coasts: Map Locations 4, 5, and 6
Approximately 77,000 B.C.E.
Approximately 3,550 Generations after Ash and ElmMap Location 4—After about a thousand years, our family again separated. One group
remained in the Middle East, spreading into Saudi Arabia. The other moved east
into Iran, following the coastline.
Map Location 5—Some settled in Iran, moving inland to the east of the Ural Moun-
tains. Others continued to move along the coastline into India.
Map Location 6—From India, our family splits again. One group continues its coastal
migration into Malaysia (6a) and south towards Sumatra. The other group (6b)
moved inland, heading towards the Himalayas.The Toba Volcano Erupts: Map Location 7
Approximately 72,000 B.C.E.
Approximately 3,800 Generations after Ash and Elmj WB Chap 03.p65 71 7/11/2003, 5:48 PM