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Controversial Cave Discoveries Suggest Humans Reached Americas Much Earlier Than Thought - Scientific American
Archeologists say stone artifacts point to occupation more than 30,000 years ago—but not everyone is convinced
Archaeologists excavating a cave in the mountains of central Mexico have unearthed evidence that people occupied the area more than 30,000 years ago—suggesting that humans arrived in North America at least 15,000 years earlier than thought.
The discovery, which includes hundreds of ancient stone tools, is backed up by a fresh statistical analysis that incorporates data from other sites. But the conclusion has stirred controversy among some researchers.
“When I see a claim being made that is so dramatic, then the evidence has to be there to substantiate the claim,” says archaeologist Kurt Rademaker at Michigan State University in East Lansing.
Archeologists say stone artifacts point to occupation more than 30,000 years ago—but not everyone is convinced
Archaeologists excavating a cave in the mountains of central Mexico have unearthed evidence that people occupied the area more than 30,000 years ago—suggesting that humans arrived in North America at least 15,000 years earlier than thought.
The discovery, which includes hundreds of ancient stone tools, is backed up by a fresh statistical analysis that incorporates data from other sites. But the conclusion has stirred controversy among some researchers.
“When I see a claim being made that is so dramatic, then the evidence has to be there to substantiate the claim,” says archaeologist Kurt Rademaker at Michigan State University in East Lansing.