The Peopling of North America

Mike Dwyer

Mike Dwyer is a former writer and contributor at Ordinary Times.

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5 Responses

  1. dragonfrog says:

    This is very interesting. I know so little about the early archaeology of the Americas.

    To be clear – is the only credible model still that the first people to arrive in the Americas came from Beringia? That what’s been shaken up is our understanding of when and by what mode of travel they arrived, but not from where?Report

    • Mike Dwyer in reply to dragonfrog says:

      I think it’s fair to say that is the only credible model. DNA traces pretty much all native peoples back to Asia.

      What is (potentially) altered by the findings in Texas are the timelines. If the science is right on when the glaciers receded, allowing foot travel into the continent, and also the dating is right on the artifacts found along the likely travel path, then they shouldn’t have been in Texas by that time. That makes a good case for coastal travel during earlier periods.Report

      • greginak in reply to Mike Dwyer says:

        I believe i’ve read that the most recent thought on foot travel through Canada was that it likely wasn’t’ possible until the last few thousand years. The corridors between the glaciers would not have been hospitable so the people must have traveled by sea.Report

        • Mike Dwyer in reply to greginak says:

          I added a photo to the OP above for reference. It shows the extent of the glaciation. Gives you a good idea of how they might have followed the coast in small boats and ended up farther south.Report

  2. atomickristin says:

    Super interesting! Thanks!Report