A groundbreaking discovery in modern-day Brazil has pushed back the timeline of human migration to the Americas by 5,000 years. Fossilized remains of a four-ton “mega-sloth” have been found with deliberate polish and a hole at one end, suggesting that humans lived alongside these massive creatures for 10,000 years.
The 20ft tall sloths, thought to be extinct, had bony structures on their backs that may have been used as decorations. Researchers have dated the chemical change in the bones, revealing that ancient people carved “fresh bones” shortly after the animals died. This discovery contradicts previous theories that humans arrived in the Americas around 11,000-13,000 years ago.
The find in Santa Elina, Brazil is significant, as it suggests that humans may have crossed the Bering land bridge earlier than previously thought. Paleontologists are re-examining their understanding of human migration and the decline of megafauna in North America. The discovery of giant sloths living with humans for 10,000 years raises new questions about our history and the impact of early human settlements on ancient ecosystems.
Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/32423061/giant-sloth-flesh-eating-americas