Modern human stem population diversified in Africa 260,000 years ago. Khoe-San represent deepest human split but recent admixture obscures true age. Africans preserve far greater genetic diversity than non-Africans. Non-Africans descend from later bottleneck without African deep diversity. Jebel Irhoud fossils dated 220,000-380,000 years old show archaic braincases unlike modern humans. Jebel Irhoud faces partially modern-like but lack key modern traits like chin. Genetic ghosts from archaic African lineages admixed into modern Africans up to 20,000 years ago. Multiple extinct archaic groups coexisted with early modern humans in Africa. Homo naledi lived 236,000-335,000 years ago alongside modern human origins. African ancestry forms braided river delta with dominant stream over 90% and minor archaic inputs. Morphology fails to distinguish modern human ancestors from extinct branches. Subequatorial Africa hosted complex hominin interactions including possible H. naledi admixture.