Ancient Footprints Discovered in New Mexico Challenge Timeline of Human Arrival in America

Archaeologists have uncovered ancient human footprints in White Sands National Park, New Mexico, that have been radiocarbon dated to about 23,000 years ago. The footprints, preserved in soft gypsum soil, clearly show the shapes of toes, arches, and heels, providing direct evidence of human presence during the Last Glacial Maximum. Previously, the dominant theory among archaeologists was that humans first arrived in the Americas around 13,000 years ago, associated with the Clovis culture. The new findings, however, indicate that humans were present in North America at least 10,000 years earlier than previously thought. The dating was achieved by analyzing seeds found in sediment layers above and below the footprints. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the migration and settlement patterns of early humans in the Americas, suggesting that humans may have adapted to the continent’s diverse environments much earlier than previously documented. The research contributes to ongoing debates about the timing and routes of human migration into the Americas.