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Theories on Ancient American Migrations
First Theory
Archeologists have thought they knew how ancient humans arrived on the American continent
for about the past 50 years. As of 2008, genetic findings are suggesting that a single population
of modern humans migrated from southern Siberia toward the land mass known as the Bering
Land Bridge as early as 30,000 years ago, and crossed over to the Americas by 16,500 years ago.
Archaeological evidence shows that by 15,000 years ago, humans had made it south of the
Canadian ice sheets. As the ice caps in Canada began to melt, a path southward emerged.
Archeologists call these people Clovis, after some stone tools from the era were found near
Clovis, New Mexico in the 1920’s and 1930’s . This may be the earliest migration the scientists
have uncovered but it certainly isn’t the only one.
Second Theory
From the 1930’s all the way to the 1990’s. The Clovis people were thought to be the only
migration theory. In 1997, archeologists made a discovery of an archaeological site in Monte
Verde, Chile, dating back to 14,500 years ago - a full millennium older than what was previously
thought to be the first people in the new world, and indicating they settled much further south
than expected. These new finding sparked much debate about the first humans migrating to the
Americas. Many new questions were asked. Did they in fact come across the Bering Land
Bridge? Could they have arrived in South America via a different route?
Intense criticism also rained down on competing theories of how people arrived, such as the idea
that early Americans might have skirted the coastline in boats, avoiding the Bering land bridge
entirely. “I was once warned not to write about coastal migration in my dissertation. My adviser
said I would ruin my career,” says Jon Erlandson, an archaeologist at the University of Oregon in
Eugene.
Third Theory
The Third theory is viewed as the more radical theory. This theory claims it is possible that the
first Americans didn't cross the Bering Land Bridge at all and didn't travel by foot, but rather by
boat across the Atlantic Ocean. Though the evidence for this theory is minimal, proponents argue
that the artifacts were developed by an earlier and still more ancient European group, known as
the Solutrean culture. This style bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the Clovis tools found
in the United States, which could suggest that humans may have entered America from the east
over a route that has been dubbed the Atlantic Maritime route. This theory looks at writing and
language of the time. Many scientists claim the people of the time had similar characteristics to
tribes in Australia and Southeast Asia. Support for this idea is found partially in the discovery of
a 9,500-year-old skeleton in Washington State. Dubbed the "Kennewick Man," the skeleton
bears a strong physical resemblance to the Japanese Ainu people, suggesting that a pan-Pacific
journey via boat might have brought the first Americans to our shores.
Modern Findings
Research and dating methods are constantly being revised and updated. It is important to note
that these are just theories and scientists really aren’t positive about any of these theories. These
theories are always evolving as new methods and evidence are being discovered and processed.
Evidence in this day is sparse and dating methods are often unreliable.
Review this rubric to see how you will be scored:
Theory
3 points Student included which theory he or she agrees with and why.
Description
3 points Student included a description on how the geography of the time has influenced the migration of people
Syntax
2 point Student used correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.