By the time Herto Man was discovered, based on genetic analyses and the fossil record after 120,000 years ago, it was largely agreed that modern humans "H. s. sapiens" evolved in Africa (recent African origin model), but it was debated if this was a continent-wide or localised process. In regard to the localised model, the antiquity of the Herto Man and the several similar specimens of presumably equal or even older age distributed across East Africa shifted the focus to that region. In 2017, the Jebel Irhoud remains were dated to 315,000 years ago, making them the oldest specimens classified as "H. sapiens". Because this date overlaps with ""H. rhodesiensis"" , the Irhoud remains also demonstrate that these transitional morphs, including Herto Man, represent a rapid evolution of the "sapiens" face, with gradual modifications to the braincase among populations distributed across Africa, beginning as early as 300,000 years ago.