The First Settlers of America

Overview

• The widely accepted theory is that the first settlers arrived via the Bering Strait from Siberia to Alaska.
• Discussions continue on the timing and method of arrival.
• Modern humans left Africa 70,000-85,000 years ago and reached America between 15,000-40,000 years ago.

Bering Land Bridge

• During the last ice age (110,000 to 10,000 years ago), Asia and North America were connected by a land bridge.
• This connection allowed animals and humans to migrate.
• The migration likely occurred at least twice from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.

Genetic Studies

• Genetics suggest initial migrations from Mongolia and Siberia.
• After the glaciation ended, the Bering Strait was submerged again.
• Eskimos maintained communication across the strait but other settlers were isolated.

Main Settlement Theories

Late Settlement Theory (Clovis Consensus)

• Dominant in the last century, posits arrival 14,000-16,000 years ago.
• Suggests migration through Alaska and an ice-free Canadian corridor to Tierra del Fuego.
• Clovis culture considered the first settlers, their descendants spread across America.

Multiple Migratory Waves

• Debate exists whether there were one or more waves.
• One wave theory: migration from Mongolia and northern China.
• Triple wave theory by Joseph Greenberg:
  • Amerindians around 12,000 years ago.
  • Na-Dene peoples (e.g., Apache, Navajos) about 8,000 years ago.
  • Eskimo-Aleuts about 6,000 years ago.

Early Settlement Theory

• Questions Clovis consensus due to older settlements in New Mexico and other regions.
• Sites such as Monte Verde, Chile, and Pedra Furada, Brazil, suggest older settlement dates (14,800 years and earlier).
• Entry to America considered possibly 25,000-40,000 years ago via coastal routes.

South America First Route Theory

• Based on more archaeological sites in South America and genetic links.
• Proposes a route from Australia, via Antarctica to Patagonia.
• Proposed by António Mendes Correia in 1928.

Other Theories

• Genetic links between Brazilian tribes and Papua New Guinea.
• Colombian tribes genetically linked to Easter Island.
• Some propose earlier human presence in America (e.g., Homo erectus 200,000 years ago).
• Debate over evidence from Toca da Esperança site, Brazil.

Conclusion

• There is certainty that humans arrived in America over 15,000 years ago.
• Theories continue to evolve with new discoveries in genetics and archaeology.