Scientists recently uncovered human footprints preserved in ancient mud at White Sands, New Mexico. These prints date back to the Last Glacial Maximum, about 23,000 years ago, which was a time when glaciers were at their peak.
This discovery is exciting because it challenges the long-held belief that humans arrived in North America much later. Some experts have doubted these dating methods, arguing that the initial techniques may not have been reliable. For example, the original study relied on radiocarbon dating of plant seeds and pollen, which drew some skepticism.
However, the same research team returned to White Sands for further investigation. They used more reliable methods this time, analyzing ancient mud alongside the footprints. An independent lab confirmed the new data, establishing that the mud dated between 20,700 and 22,400 years ago. This consistency across three different materials—from seeds, pollen, to mud—strengthens the argument that humans existed in this area long before the end of the Ice Age.
Vance Holliday, an archaeologist from the University of Arizona, stated, “It’s a remarkably consistent record.” He believes that with so much supporting evidence, it would be nearly improbable for all of these findings to be misinterpreted.
Historically, the Clovis culture was considered the earliest known group in America, thought to have migrated from Siberia about 13,000 years ago. This timeline shaped our understanding of human arrival in America for decades. However, the footprints at White Sands may push this date back by thousands of years, suggesting that people could have arrived through different routes.
In ancient times, what is now White Sands was a series of lakes. As the climate changed and they dried up, the wind formed the unique gypsum dunes we see today. The footprints were made next to an ancient stream that once fed one of those lakes.
Jason Windingstad, a doctoral candidate in environmental science, noted the unusual nature of finding such ancient prints. “It contradicts everything that you’ve been taught about the peopling of North America,” he said.
Yet, a big question remains: where are the tools or shelters typically left behind by ancient people? Researchers believe the footprints were part of quick paths, which makes the absence of artifacts understandable. Holliday stated, “These people lived by their artifacts… It doesn’t make sense to expect a debris field.”
This recent evidence adds weight to the idea that humans were living in North America much earlier than once thought. The new study appeared in the journal Science Advances, highlighting the ongoing shift in our understanding of early human migration patterns in the Americas.
For more details on the study, check out Science Advances.
