Peopling of the Americas : the South Pacific route

Abstract

The migration of humans to the New World took place in the late Pleistocene epoch. There are three prevailing theories that describe how the first Americans entered the continents of the Western Hemisphere. One theory describes a route by foot across the Bering Land Bridge while the other two theories describe a maritime voyage closely following the coast. The maritime entry has gained credibility recently with closer examination of the geological and archaeological evidence. Some of these from coastal locations along both coasts of the Americas. One of these sites is located in an unexpected place, Chile. Archaeological data from Monte Verde in South America indicates a presence of humans at 14,600 B.P. This early date, earlier than most North American sites, fuels a hypothesis that the first people to settle Monte Verde came from the west, across the South Pacific Ocean as a possible fourth scenario of how people arrived in the Americas.

Notes

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Thesis Completion

2010

Degree

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

College

College of Sciences

Degree Program

Anthropology

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Sciences;Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic

Format

Print

Identifier

DP0022503

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Document Type

Honors in the Major Thesis

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