Title: Ancient Footprints Discovered in White Sands Suggest Humans Occupied North America 21,000 Years Ago
Date: [Insert Date]
Word count: 362
White Sands, New Mexico – In a groundbreaking discovery, fossilized human footprints found in White Sands, New Mexico have challenged the longstanding belief that humans arrived in North America around 13,000 to 16,000 years ago. A new dating method suggests that humans were present in the area at least 21,000 years ago, significantly earlier than previously estimated.
The footprints were unearthed during the Last Glacial Maximum, a period when Earth’s surface was covered in ice sheets and glaciers. This finding adds to the growing body of evidence indicating that humans were able to survive in North America during the challenging environmental conditions of that time.
Debate has surrounded the accuracy of the dating method used to determine the age of the footprints. Initially, radiocarbon dating of seeds from the aquatic plant Ruppia cirrhosa indicated that the footprints were 21,000 years old. However, concerns were raised about the possibility of dissolved carbon atoms in the water skewing the results, leading to older measurements.
To address this concern, a follow-up study focused on radiocarbon dating of conifer pollen, derived from terrestrial plants which do not face the same dating issues as aquatic plants. The pollen ages were found to be statistically identical to the corresponding seed ages, providing further confirmation of the initial findings.
The research team also employed optically stimulated luminescence dating, which determines the last time quartz grains were exposed to sunlight. This method provided additional support for the radiocarbon results, further bolstering the credibility of the dating approach.
Aside from establishing the timeline, the footprints themselves offer intriguing insights into the behavior of this ancient population. Among the footprints discovered in White Sands National Park, one set from a female suggests that she may have carried a child, indicating familiar behaviors within the early human groups.
Moreover, the majority of footprints found in the area belong to teenagers and children, hinting at a division of labor in which adults engaged in skilled tasks while teenagers were involved in responsibilities such as “fetching and carrying.”
The discovery of these ancient footprints in White Sands National Park holds significant implications for our understanding of human presence in North America during the Last Glacial Maximum. Moreover, this adds a compelling reason for tourists to include this archaeological treasure in their travel plans.
Sources:
1. ABC News
2. National Geographic
3. Science Daily
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