Episode 2 The First Migrations to the Americas

Ancient Civilizations of North America

Dr Edwin Barnhart (2018)

Film Review

According to Barnhart, most DNA (both Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA) evidence indicates that ancient humans migrated from Siberia across a Bering Strait land bridge (when sea levels were lower) as they pursued mega fauna (eg mammoths and mastodons) driven by drought and population pressure. Thus far, all DNA studies are positive for specific haplogroups that are are only found in North America and parts of Asia.

There is no evidence that either Neanderthals or homo erectus species migrated to North America.

Archeologists believes the first wave of human beings most likely crossed the Bering Strait into Alaska 30,000 years ago, migrating as far south as Texas and northern Mexico. The second wave, which arrived 16,500 years ago, migrated as far south as South America. The third arrived around 10,000 years ago.

Most prehistoric North Americans left behind artifacts (tools and plant and animal remains) without any skeletal remains. Exceptions include human remains dating from 16,000 BP (before present) in South Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania, from 13,000 BP near Santa Rosa California and 11,000 years BP in Texas. Human coproliths (fossilized feces) have ben discovered in Oregon dating from 14,300 .

In Buttermillk Creek, the oldest Texas site, archeologists have discovered 16,000 tools and other human artifacts dating from 15,500 BP.

Butchered mammoth remains have been discovered from 18,000 BP in La Sena, Nebraska and from 21,000 – 18,000 BP in Lawrence Kansas.

Barnhart speaks briefly about the Solutrean hypothesis that East coast indigenous humans traveled by boat from Europe between 21,000 – 17,000. This hypothesis relates to the discovery of Solutrean blades (in the absence of human remains) in both Europe and the eastern US.

Human migrants reached Japan around 30,000 BP and Australia around 50,000 BP.

Film can be viewed free on Kanopy.

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/watch/video/5713021/5712740