Early Peopling of the Americas - New Evidence from White Sands Footprints

Explore groundbreaking research on the early peopling of the Americas in this 15-minute interview from the AAAS Annual Meeting. Join Regina G. Barber as she speaks with United States Geological Survey scientists Kathleen Springer and Jeff Pigati about their paradigm-shifting discovery at White Sands National Park. Learn about human footprints dating back 21,000 to 23,000 years ago, challenging the prevailing theory of human arrival in the Americas. Delve into the dating methods used, including radiocarbon dating of seeds and new techniques involving pollen and quartz grains. Understand the implications of this discovery for our understanding of human migration during the last ice age and its potential to spark a re-evaluation of other contested archaeological sites. Gain insights into the ongoing debate among archaeologists and the search for additional evidence to confirm the presence of early humans in the Americas.