New age constraints for human entry into the Americas on the north Pacific coast
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.The peopling of the Americas is clarified by new research on the North Pacific coast. This study uses vertebrate remains and radiocarbon dates to reveal settlement timings and environmental conditions during the last glaciation.
Area Of Science
- Paleoecology
- Archaeology
- Quaternary Science
Background
- The initial peopling of the Americas remains a debated topic, with human entry from Beringia during the last glaciation being a key consideration.
- Evaluating environmental parameters and identifying suitable settlement areas are crucial for understanding early human migration routes.
Purpose Of The Study
- To establish new age constraints for human coastal migration theories in the context of the peopling of the Americas.
- To assess the viability of coastal routes by examining vertebrate remains and archaeological site data.
Main Methods
- Radiocarbon dating of vertebrate specimens and archaeological sites.
- Calibration of dates to document species occurrences and human settlement ages.
- Analysis of environmental conditions across four subregions of the North Pacific coast during the Late Wisconsin Fraser Glaciation.
Main Results
- Archaeological sites were found to post-date glacial maxima.
- Site ages align with other dated early sites in southern North America.
- Gaps in vertebrate chronologies around Cordilleran Ice Sheet (CIS) maxima indicate periods of low human settlement potential.
Conclusions
- The study provides crucial age constraints for coastal migration theories regarding the peopling of the Americas.
- Vertebrate data reveal periods of environmental stress and species redistribution, impacting potential human subsistence along coastal routes.
- Findings highlight the dynamic environmental conditions that influenced early human settlement patterns.
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