Old American theory is 'speared'

[Gerald]

An ancient bone with a projectile point lodged within it appears to up-end - once and for all - a long-held idea of how the Americas were first populated.The rib, from a tusked beast known as a mastodon, has been dated precisely to 13,800 years ago.This places it before the so-called Clovis hunters, who many academics had argued were the North American continent's original inhabitants.News of the dating results is reported in Science magazine.In truth, the "Clovis first" model, which holds to the idea that America's original human population swept across a land-bridge from Siberia some 13,000 years ago, has looked untenable for some time.A succession of archaeological finds right across the United States and northern Mexico have indicated there was human activity much earlier than this - perhaps as early as 15-16,000 years ago.The mastodon rib, however, really leaves the once cherished model with nowhere to go.The specimen has actually been known about for more than 30 years. It is plainly from an old male animal that had been attacked with some kind of weaponry.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15391388

Note: 21 October 2011 Last updated at 01:21 GMT

[August]

So the so called "native" Americans are actually the third wave of immigrants to come to our shores?

[Gerald]

Apparently,

[Osmium Steele]

Most western tribes have some folklore about people preceding them.

There was no other way to explain the dwellings and drawings that already existed when they arrived.

[vienna]

This places it before the so-called Clovis hunters, who many academics had argued were the North American continent's original inhabitants.

"Clovis"? Wasn't that the name of a character on "the Dukes of Hazzard"...

[Penguin]

In before the obligatory"ask Sailor Steve" joke.

I wonder whatever happened to this story, about the discovery of 40000 year old footprints in Mexico: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4650307.stm

Originally Posted by August

So the so called "native" Americans are actually the third wave of immigrants to come to our shores?

Wouldn't the native Americans just be the descendants of the Clovis people - or from whoever set the first foot on the continent?

[August]

Originally Posted by Penguin

In before the obligatory"ask Sailor Steve" joke.

I wonder whatever happened to this story, about the discovery of 40000 year old footprints in Mexico: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4650307.stm




Wouldn't the native Americans just be the descendants of the Clovis people - or from whoever set the first foot on the continent?

Not from what I understand. Europeans represent at least the 4th wave of immigrants to the new world. There may be more though.

[magicstix]

The "Out of Siberia" theory has been dead for some time. There's even very good evidence European tribes were in the Delmarva peninsula area 18000-30000 years ago.

[joegrundman]

Originally Posted by magicstix

The "Out of Siberia" theory has been dead for some time. There's even very good evidence European tribes were in the Delmarva peninsula area 18000-30000 years ago.

please to elaborate?

[Osmium Steele]

Originally Posted by magicstix

The "Out of Siberia" theory has been dead for some time. There's even very good evidence European tribes were in the Delmarva peninsula area 18000-30000 years ago.

You'll have to do better than arrowheads to convince, considering native americans carry genetic markers originating with siberian tribes.