Fossil Footprints in New Mexico Rewrite History of Human Presence in the Americas
New research has revealed that fossil footprints found in New Mexico are likely the oldest direct evidence of human presence in the Americas, challenging previous theories about when humans reached the continent. The footprints, discovered at the edge of an ancient lakebed in White Sands national park, have been dated back to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago.
The findings, published in the journal Science, have upended the conventional belief that humans did not reach the Americas until around 15,000 years ago when the rising sea levels covered the Bering land bridge between Russia and Alaska. The estimated age of the footprints was initially reported in 2021, but some researchers had raised concerns about the dates, suggesting the possibility of contamination and outdated radiocarbon dating techniques.
The new study provides additional evidence to support the older date range. Ancient conifer pollen and quartz grains found at the site were analyzed, along with the footprints, to confirm the findings. The study’s authors isolated approximately 75,000 grains of pure pollen from the same sedimentary layer as the footprints.
Thomas Urban, an archaeological scientist at Cornell University who was involved in the 2021 study, described the significance of the research, stating, “This is a subject that’s always been controversial because it’s so significant – it’s about how we understand the last chapter of the peopling of the world.” Meanwhile, Thomas Stafford, an independent archaeological geologist in Albuquerque, New Mexico, expressed his initial skepticism but now believes in the authenticity of the footprints.
The discovery of ancient footprints provides archaeologists with valuable insights into past human presence and behavior. While other archaeological sites in the Americas indicate similar date ranges, there has been ongoing debate over whether materials found at these sites truly indicate human presence. However, in the case of the footprints found in White Sands, there is no ambiguity. Jennifer Raff, an anthropological geneticist at the University of Kansas, remarked, “White Sands is unique because there’s no question these footprints were left by people.”
The research opens up new avenues for understanding the peopling of the Americas and challenges previous timelines. It emphasizes the need for continued exploration and analysis in order to shed light on the history of human migration and settlement on the continent.