Two years ago, a team of archaeologists claimed to have discovered human footprints dating back 23,000 to 20,000 years in New Mexico. This discovery faced skepticism due to doubts about dating methods. However, recent research provides strong evidence to support this groundbreaking find, shedding light on early human migration in North America.
The Controversial Discovery
The ancient footprints were found in New Mexico's White Sands National Park in 2021. Initial dating relied on radiocarbon dating of organic matter in the sediment layer, suggesting an age between 23,000 and 21,000 years. Skepticism arose over the dating method's reliance on Ruppia cirrhosa seeds, which could absorb older carbon from water, potentially making the layer older.
The study site trench with White Sands National Park Resource Program Manager, David Bustos, in foreground.
Image credit: National Park Service
To address dating doubts, researchers revisited the site and focused on terrestrial pollen in the same sediment layer. Coniferous plants in this layer fix atmospheric carbon, reducing contamination risk. The new dating method confirmed the initial findings, placing the footprints between 23,000 and 22,000 years old, bolstering the belief in early human presence during the Last Glacial Maximum.
Implications for Human Migration
This confirmed dating challenges the Clovis-first hypothesis, suggesting that humans arrived in the Americas much earlier than previously thought. While the Clovis culture was believed to be the earliest group at 15,000 to 13,000 years ago, evidence now hints at arrivals ranging from 25,000 to 33,000 years ago. Footprints offer indisputable proof, unlike artifacts prone to migration between sediment layers. Dr. Reynolds, a researcher, highlighted the significance of footprints as they "cannot migrate down."
A single human footprint at the site.
Image credit: National Park Service
Confirmation of the age of ancient footprints in New Mexico is a significant breakthrough, altering our understanding of early human migration in North America. It challenges previous beliefs and underscores the importance of innovative research methods in unraveling our ancient past. These footprints attest to early human presence during the Last Glacial Maximum, reshaping the narrative of our continent's history.
