Peopling of Peopling of MesoamericaMesoamerica

When did people first appear in When did people first appear in the Americas? the Americas?

Where did they come from? Where did they come from? What did they look like? What did they look like? Early Mesoamerican SitesEarly Mesoamerican Sites

Geological BackgroundGeological Background

50,000-7000± Wisconsin Glacial Period50,000-7000± Wisconsin Glacial Period The presence of land corridors from The presence of land corridors from

Beringia allows the possibility of human Beringia allows the possibility of human passage, but convincing evidence is still passage, but convincing evidence is still wanting. wanting.

>11,500 Cary Advance>11,500 Cary Advance 11,000-10,000 Mankato Advance (humid)11,000-10,000 Mankato Advance (humid) 10,000-8000 Two Creeks Interval (dry)10,000-8000 Two Creeks Interval (dry)

MapMap

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/m_cam/hd_m_cam.htm

When did people first appear in the When did people first appear in the Americas? Americas?

Part of a larger debated centered Part of a larger debated centered around two issues:around two issues:

• The traditional, undisputed evidence for The traditional, undisputed evidence for the presence of a fluted point the presence of a fluted point manufacturing Clovis culture throughout manufacturing Clovis culture throughout most of the inhabitable continent between most of the inhabitable continent between about 13,500-12,000 cal. (clovis/short about 13,500-12,000 cal. (clovis/short chronology)chronology)

• New evidence of sites in Americas dating New evidence of sites in Americas dating to 19 and 15 kya. (pre-clovis/long to 19 and 15 kya. (pre-clovis/long chronology)chronology)

Climatological/Migration evidence for Climatological/Migration evidence for Modern HumandModern Humand

Earliest modern humans outside Africa ca. Earliest modern humans outside Africa ca. 100,000100,000

The last lands to inhabit: The last lands to inhabit: • Sumatra and BorneoSumatra and Borneo• before 20,000 B.P. connected by land bridge to before 20,000 B.P. connected by land bridge to

SE AsiaSE Asia• People could walk to new areas.People could walk to new areas.

Sea level was much lower because water Sea level was much lower because water taken up in polar ice.taken up in polar ice.

• Approximately 120 meters lower than at Approximately 120 meters lower than at present.present.

• Oldest Australians-35 kya (some argue 55 kya) Oldest Australians-35 kya (some argue 55 kya)

How did they get there and where How did they get there and where did they come from?did they come from?

Invention of water transport (boats), Invention of water transport (boats), modern computer simulations have modern computer simulations have shown that at certain times of the shown that at certain times of the year it would take seven days to go year it would take seven days to go from Borneo/Java to Australia/New from Borneo/Java to Australia/New Guinea (55 miles of open water).Guinea (55 miles of open water).

No boats recovered from Australia No boats recovered from Australia which date to this time period.which date to this time period.

MesoamericaMesoamerica

Peaks of glacial max-lower sea levelsPeaks of glacial max-lower sea levels Siberia and Alaska connected by Siberia and Alaska connected by

Bering Land BridgeBering Land Bridge Ca. 50 kya during the “Happy” Ca. 50 kya during the “Happy”

interval of Pleistocene (level 200 ft interval of Pleistocene (level 200 ft lower)lower)

Ca. 20 kya during the Duvanny Yar Ca. 20 kya during the Duvanny Yar Interval (level 300 ft lower)Interval (level 300 ft lower)

Two Conflicting TheoriesTwo Conflicting Theories

The antiquity of the earliest Americans The antiquity of the earliest Americans is controversial, much debateis controversial, much debate

Short Chronology (Clovis)Short Chronology (Clovis)• No evidence of humans in New World No evidence of humans in New World

before 12-13 kya.before 12-13 kya. Long Chronology (Pre-Clovis)Long Chronology (Pre-Clovis)

• Humans in many migrations in New World, Humans in many migrations in New World, as early as 20 kya (or even earlier).as early as 20 kya (or even earlier).

Short Chronology (Clovis)Short Chronology (Clovis) No evidence of humans in New World before 12-13 No evidence of humans in New World before 12-13

kya.kya. Crossed Bering Land Bridge during last glacial Crossed Bering Land Bridge during last glacial

maximum, moved between major ice sheets-maximum, moved between major ice sheets-Laurentide (C. Canada), Labrador (E. Canada), and Laurentide (C. Canada), Labrador (E. Canada), and Cordilleran (W. Canada). All touched at glacial Cordilleran (W. Canada). All touched at glacial maximum.maximum.

Ice free areas developed during last periods (20-12 Ice free areas developed during last periods (20-12 kya) and people crossed Beringia, following larger kya) and people crossed Beringia, following larger herds of bison, Mammoth, and Mastodon.herds of bison, Mammoth, and Mastodon.

People carried large spears-Clovis Points and lived in People carried large spears-Clovis Points and lived in highly mobile groups traveling rapidly across highly mobile groups traveling rapidly across unglaciated N. America into S. America in very short unglaciated N. America into S. America in very short period of time. Called the Paleoindians.period of time. Called the Paleoindians.

Possible that the rapid expansion of humans in Possible that the rapid expansion of humans in conjunction with warmer climate (ca 10 kya) caused conjunction with warmer climate (ca 10 kya) caused extinction of megafauna in New World.extinction of megafauna in New World.

Possible Migration RoutesPossible Migration RoutesBering Land BridgeBering Land Bridge

Clovis “Fluted” TechnologyClovis “Fluted” Technology

Flute

Long Chronology (Pre-Clovis)Long Chronology (Pre-Clovis)

Humans in many migrations in New World, as Humans in many migrations in New World, as early as 20 kya (or earlier).early as 20 kya (or earlier).

Smaller groups than indicated by Clovis Smaller groups than indicated by Clovis hypothesis, largely a wood and bone tool hypothesis, largely a wood and bone tool industry. Also chopper and scraper industry.industry. Also chopper and scraper industry.

Postulated due to recent finds of sites which Postulated due to recent finds of sites which date to before 13 kya.date to before 13 kya.

Pre-Clovis SitesPre-Clovis Sites

• Meadowcroft Rockshleter, PA (16-19,5 kya) Meadowcroft Rockshleter, PA (16-19,5 kya) artifacts include stone blades, scrapers and artifacts include stone blades, scrapers and knives.knives.

• Cactus Hill, VA (17 kya)Cactus Hill, VA (17 kya)• Wilson Butte Cave, Idaho (14,5 kya)Wilson Butte Cave, Idaho (14,5 kya)• Most compelling are S. American sitesMost compelling are S. American sites

Flea Cave, Peru 14,7 kyaFlea Cave, Peru 14,7 kya Pedra Furadarockshleter, Brazil 30-12 kyaPedra Furadarockshleter, Brazil 30-12 kya Monte Verde, Chile excavated by Tom Dillehay Monte Verde, Chile excavated by Tom Dillehay

• One area of site dates to ca. 13 kya houses, preserved One area of site dates to ca. 13 kya houses, preserved by an overlayer of peat. Wood, bone, skin, meat, by an overlayer of peat. Wood, bone, skin, meat, botanicals are extremely well preserved.botanicals are extremely well preserved.

• Ambiguous lower level of three possible cultural Ambiguous lower level of three possible cultural features and some stone tool fragments dated to 33 features and some stone tool fragments dated to 33 kya. Affiliation unclear, but more recent research kya. Affiliation unclear, but more recent research suggests early dates very compelling.suggests early dates very compelling.

Pre-Clovis Pre-Clovis SitesSites

Meadowcroft RockshelterMeadowcroft Rockshelter

Meadowcroft RockshelterMeadowcroft Rockshelter

Cactus Hill, VACactus Hill, VA

Monte Verde, ChileMonte Verde, Chile

Monte Verde, ChileMonte Verde, Chile

Monte Verde, ChileMonte Verde, Chile

Monte Verde CultureMonte Verde Culture

Asian-Coastal Western North Asian-Coastal Western North AmericaAmerica

Asian-Coastal Western North Asian-Coastal Western North AmericaAmerica

Tool found Submerged UnderwaterIn coastal Pacific

Atlantic Coastal RouteAtlantic Coastal Route

Clovis vs. SolutreanClovis vs. Solutrean

Different shapes, but similar technology

Inuit Skin boatsInuit Skin boats

Paleoindian Sites in MesoamericaPaleoindian Sites in Mesoamerica

Valsequillo Valsequillo • located in the state of Puebla located in the state of Puebla • excavated by Cynthia Irwin-Williams and Juan excavated by Cynthia Irwin-Williams and Juan

Armenta Armenta • at least five sites show human habitation at least five sites show human habitation • tools found in gravels from the Wisconsin tools found in gravels from the Wisconsin

glaciation glaciation • unifacial stone tools near the bones of extinct unifacial stone tools near the bones of extinct

animals animals • shell near stone flakes dated to ca. 22,000 BP shell near stone flakes dated to ca. 22,000 BP • Early human footprints??Early human footprints??

Valsequillo Reservoir areaValsequillo Reservoir area

http://www.mexicanfootprints.co.uk/

Early Footprint?Early Footprint?

Dating Dating unclear-some unclear-some suggest suggest 40,000, but 40,000, but very very controversial.controversial.

http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/po/news/2004-05/jul/12a.shtml

http://www.mexicanfootprints.co.uk/

TlapacoyaTlapacoya

located in the Valley of Mexico located in the Valley of Mexico mammoth bones with simple flakes dated mammoth bones with simple flakes dated

to ca. 27,000 - 22,000 BP (25,000 - 20,000 to ca. 27,000 - 22,000 BP (25,000 - 20,000 BC) BC)

dates based on radiocarbon from one of dates based on radiocarbon from one of three fire hearths three fire hearths • hearths associated with bones of Ice Age fauna hearths associated with bones of Ice Age fauna • bear, deer, and stag bear, deer, and stag • 2500 stone flakes, blades and cores found in 2500 stone flakes, blades and cores found in

this level this level

TequixquiacTequixquiac site in the Valley of Mexico north of Lake site in the Valley of Mexico north of Lake

Texcoco, 42 mi north of Mexico City Texcoco, 42 mi north of Mexico City carved sacrum of a Pleistocene camelid carved sacrum of a Pleistocene camelid

• find made by Mariano Barcena in 1870 find made by Mariano Barcena in 1870 • was 12 m (40 ft) below the surface and was 12 m (40 ft) below the surface and

represents face of a dog, wolf, or coyote represents face of a dog, wolf, or coyote • simple stone scrapers, pressure-flaked simple stone scrapers, pressure-flaked

unifacial blades unifacial blades • splinters of mammoth bone made into bone splinters of mammoth bone made into bone

awls found at the same site awls found at the same site • indicate butchering and scraper hide indicate butchering and scraper hide

processing processing bottom of deposits thought to have been bottom of deposits thought to have been

laid down 40,000 years ago laid down 40,000 years ago

Carved BoneCarved Bone

Discovered in 1870 by the Mexican naturalist Mariano Bárcena, this piece is of particular importance, given the fact that it is one of the earliest cultural artifacts to have ever come to light in Mesoamerica. Carved from the sacrum of a now extinct American relative of the camel, its original use remains unknown.

TepexpanTepexpan found by Helmut de Terra in 1949 found by Helmut de Terra in 1949 located on the northern shore of Lake Texcoco located on the northern shore of Lake Texcoco skeleton, called "Tepexpan Man" found with a skeleton, called "Tepexpan Man" found with a

mine detector mine detector bones in association with Becerra formation bones in association with Becerra formation was actually a female individual was actually a female individual found face down, with legs flexed found face down, with legs flexed

• common form for Archaic period burials common form for Archaic period burials • no associated offerings no associated offerings • height estimated at 5'5" tall height estimated at 5'5" tall • between 25 and 30 years of age between 25 and 30 years of age • skeleton is morphologically similar to modern Indians skeleton is morphologically similar to modern Indians • within normal range of present-day Indian populations within normal range of present-day Indian populations • no associated artifacts no associated artifacts • actual stratigraphic position is not well known actual stratigraphic position is not well known • fluorine content in bones very close to that of the fluorine content in bones very close to that of the

mammoths from Santa Isabel Ixtapanmammoths from Santa Isabel Ixtapan

Tepexpan WomanTepexpan Woman

Santa Izabel IztapanSanta Izabel Iztapan located in the northern Basin of Mexico, just a few miles located in the northern Basin of Mexico, just a few miles

south of Tepexpan south of Tepexpan first discovery was in 1952 by workers opening a drainage first discovery was in 1952 by workers opening a drainage

ditchditch kill sites with two mammoth (kill sites with two mammoth (Mammuthus imperatorMammuthus imperator) )

skeletons skeletons • animal had been butchered in situ with six stone tools found animal had been butchered in situ with six stone tools found

with one mammoth, three artifacts with the second with one mammoth, three artifacts with the second • include obsidian side scrapers, flint blades, fragment of a include obsidian side scrapers, flint blades, fragment of a

bifacial knife, three projectile points, and prismatic obsidian bifacial knife, three projectile points, and prismatic obsidian blades blades

• one of the points was of a North American type known as one of the points was of a North American type known as Scottsbluff Scottsbluff

second mammoth found in 1954 second mammoth found in 1954 • tools found associated with mammoth bones tools found associated with mammoth bones • hind leg of animal had apparently caught in the muckhind leg of animal had apparently caught in the muck• bones had deep cut marks bones had deep cut marks • artifacts included an Angostura point, a Lerma point of flint, artifacts included an Angostura point, a Lerma point of flint,

and a bifacial chert knife and a bifacial chert knife • datable charcoal from hearth next to third mammoth and datable charcoal from hearth next to third mammoth and

radiocarbon dates fall between 14,000 and 9000 BP radiocarbon dates fall between 14,000 and 9000 BP