Final answer:
The earliest and southernmost Paleo-Indian jump site is the Monte Verde site in Chile, dating back to 14,800-13,800 BP. This site includes evidence such as shelters, clay-lined fire pits, and a child's footprint. The Head-Smashed-In buffalo jump in Canada, used 5,700 years ago, reveals hunting practices and long-term use of the site.
Step-by-step explanation:
The earliest and southernmost Paleo-Indian jump site discussed is the Monte Verde site in Chile, with evidence of early human settlement around 14,800-13,800 BP. This site has well-documented dates that challenge the Clovis First hypothesis, which posited that the first human presence in the Americas dated to around 10,000 BCE. Monte Verde provides extensive archaeological remains, including wood and hide shelters, clay-lined fire pits, and a child's footprint preserved in the soft clay.
Additionally, the Head-Smashed-In buffalo jump site in Alberta, Canada, reflects the use of landscape features to hunt large animals by driving them off cliffs, with the earliest utilization dating to about 5,700 years ago. This site indicates sustained hunting practices over a long period and the processing of game at nearby campsites.
Finally, sites like the Monte Verde suggest long-distance trade and a diversified diet that included both terrestrial and marine resources, giving insight into the early hunter-gatherer societies of the Americas.