Final answer:
The correct answer to which option is NOT evidence that supports the Bering Land Bridge model for the peopling of the New World is (e) the linguistic and genetic similarities of Asian and Native American populations, as these similarities do not exclusively support the land bridge theory. The correct answer is option e.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which of the following options is NOT evidence that supports the Bering Land Bridge model for the peopling of the New World.
- (a) the age estimates for the earliest humans in North and South America
- (b) close geographic proximity of northeastern Asia and northwestern North America
- (c) presence of the Beringia 'land bridge' during the late Pleistocene
- (d) the documented Pleistocene migration of animals along this route
- (e) the linguistic and genetic similarities of Asian and Native American populations
All the listed evidence except option (e) directly supports the Bering Land Bridge theory. The presence of the Beringia 'land bridge' during the late Pleistocene, as well as the proximity and animal migration evidence, supports the theory that early humans migrated over this route into the New World. However, the linguistic and genetic similarities are not exclusive evidence supporting the land bridge model, as they could also be indicative of coastal or even sea-travel migrations.
Therefore, the correct answer is (e) the linguistic and genetic similarities of Asian and Native American populations.