Final answer:
The technique used to date American animals to 75,000 years ago is radiocarbon dating, which analyzes the amount of radioactive carbon-14 in organic materials. Examples of radiocarbon dating in the White Sands National Park support the idea of human occupation in North America during the last Ice Age. However, radiocarbon dating is subject to recalibrations and further research is needed to confirm these dates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technique used to date American animals to 75,000 years ago is radiocarbon dating. Radiocarbon dating is a technology that allows scientists to estimate the age of organic materials by measuring the amount of radioactive carbon-14 that is left in a sample. By analyzing the remains of American animals, scientists can determine their approximate age and gain insights into the history of human occupation in the Americas.
For example, in the White Sands National Park in New Mexico, radiocarbon dating of plant matter within and alongside human footprints placed the tracks at somewhere between 21,000 to 23,000 years old, which is the earliest date estimated for human occupation in North America. This discovery challenges previous beliefs and indicates that humans were present in North America during the last Ice Age.
It is important to note that radiocarbon dating is not a perfect technique and is subject to recalibrations and ongoing discoveries. Additional research is needed to verify the proposed new dates and further explore the history of human occupation in the Americas.