Evidence of multiple distinct human groups colonizing the Americas
In short: Archaeologists studying the Paisley Caves in Oregon found evidence that the first humans to reach the Western Hemisphere were not a single group. By analyzing ancient artifacts and fossilized human waste, researchers identified two different technologies existing at the same time, suggesting that various founding groups with unique cultural practices arrived independently.
The study used high-precision radiocarbon dating on deposits containing projectile points and coprolites (fossilized feces). They found Western Stemmed projectile points in layers dated between 11,070 and 11,340 years ago. Notably, there was no evidence of the well-known Clovis technology in these same layers.
This suggests that different technologies developed in parallel rather than one evolving into the other. While the study provides strong evidence for multiple founding groups, it is based on archaeological remains and DNA analysis from a specific site.
Why it matters: The first humans to reach the Americas likely arrived in several different waves with unique cultures and tools.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Research: Jenkins et al. (2012). Clovis Age Western Stemmed Projectile Points and Human Coprolites at the Paisley Caves. Science.
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