For a long time, scientists believed that humans arrived in the Americas soon after the last Ice Age, killing off giant ground sloths and other massive animals. However, new research from multiple sites is changing this narrative.
Archaeologists have discovered evidence that suggests humans were present in the Americas for at least 10,000 years, potentially even longer. One of the most significant finds comes from an archaeological site in central Brazil called Santa Elina, where bones of giant ground sloths show signs of being manipulated by humans. The discovery is roughly 27,000 years old and challenges the traditional Clovis-first theory.
Researchers believe that ancient people carved “fresh bones” shortly after the animals died, and not thousands of years later as previously thought. This new evidence raises questions about the impact of early human presence on the environment and potentially rewrites the story of humans’ arrival in the Americas.
While some scientists still debate the timing of human arrival, recent discoveries at sites like Monte Verde in Chile and Arroyo del Vizcaíno in Uruguay suggest that humans may have been present even earlier. The latest findings include stone tools, preserved animal hides, and edible plants dating back to 14,500 years.
The discovery of human footprints dated to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago at White Sands in New Mexico also provides a glimpse into early interactions between humans and giant mammals. The finding challenges the idea that humans would repeatedly traverse a site without leaving behind any artifacts.
As scientists continue to follow the evidence where it leads, it’s clear that if humans arrived earlier than thought, they didn’t immediately decimate the giant beasts they encountered. Instead, their presence may have been more complex and nuanced.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/new-research-says-people-arrived-in-americas-much-earlier-and-co-existed-with-giant-sloths-and-mastodons