Johorne is a Colony

Summary

Johorne is increasingly thought to not have been the origin of humanity. It is theorized to have been a colony or refuge of some sort, which for some reason or another collapsed and lost contact with the rest of humanity.

Historical Basis

There are several strong arguments for this theory.
The first point brought up is the fossil record. The record of life on Johorne is rich with a clear progression in evolutionary lines. However, it is incomplete. Apart from the expected holes and lack of evidence during older periods, humans (And many other creatures) only go back some thousands of years in the fossil record. Indeed, of the creatures most associated with humanity, such as the Mecojz, the Phorus, the horse, and many livestock and pets, they are almost all closer in relation to each other, genetically, than they are to the other fauna on the planet.
Another point, related to the fossil record in part, is the distribution of life on Johorne. Prior to the ages of exploration and colonization, there were the same crops on several continents, already in use for human agriculture. Likewise, the global distribution of humanity in spite of the lack of land bridges across oceans and the puzzling genetic relationships between different continental populations is cause for questioning.
However, the most damning evidence for this theory is in the traces of archaeological evidence that was supposedly left behind. Whatever materials the architecture was made of is not clear, as the hypothesized cities are nowhere to be found. However, in place of cities there are large amounts of industrial equipment and produce. Great gears and ruined machines, as well as their output and small baubles have been found throughout most of the planet. This alone is compelling enough for most to believe that theory.

Spread

This theory came on as a gradual realization after the age of reason had begun.
Beginning in the sixteenth century by the Ethain calendar, the natural sciences took off in their progressions. Biology, sociology, ethnology, etc. The failure to compare some animals, and especially humanity, with the other creatures on the planet led to stalls in progress due to inconsistencies. Yet, eventually, the massing errors revealed themselves to be not an issue with the theories, but as a planet-wide anomaly.

Variations & Mutation

There are several theories with differences and distinctions about humanity's origins.
The two most popular variants center around Johorne having been either a once prosperous colony of humanity, thrown into chaos and set back by an unknown force or event, or the planet having been used as a refuge by humans, possibly fleeing from an interstellar war..
Among these two variants there are smaller distinctions in the details. As of the current day, the evidence is not strong in either direction.

Cultural Reception

The realization, although gradual, was shocking around the world. Even after a century, the prospects of humanity not being from Johorne initially was a rarely acknowledged notion. In the current day, the theory is much more wide spread and popular.
There are some places in which the idea is outright denied, largely on religious grounds. Curiously, there are also a few regions that accepted the notion of extra-worldly origin readily, also on religious grounds.

In Literature

There has, since the first proposition of the theory, been a literary interest in the subject. However, with the advent of mass media and the entertainment that comes with it, there has been a large growth in the subject matter taking center-stage in works of fiction.

Related Organizations

• The Lost Children