Footprints oldest evidence of humans in the Americas 23,000 years old

[shunyadragon]

Footprints oldest evidence of humans in the Americas 23,000 years old
Today, 03:51 PM

Source: Earliest definitive evidence of people in Americas



Earliest definitive evidence of people in Americas


By Paul Rincon
Science editor, BBC News website
Published1 hour ago
Share

IMAGE SOURCE,BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITYimage captionThe footprints belonged to teenagers and children who lived between 23,000 and 21,000 years ago

Humans reached the Americas at least 7,000 years earlier than previously thought, according to new findings.

The topic of when the continent was first settled from Asia has been controversial for decades.

Many researchers are sceptical of evidence for humans in the North American interior much earlier than 16,000 years ago.

Now, a team working in New Mexico has found scores of human footprints dated to between 23,000 and 21,000 years old.

The discovery could transform views about when the continent was settled. It suggests there could have been great migrations that we know nothing about. And it raises the possibility that these earlier populations could have gone extinct.

The footprints were formed in soft mud on the margins of a shallow lake which now forms part of Alkali Flat in White Sands.
A team from the US Geological Survey carried out radiocarbon dating on seeds found in sediment layers above and below where the footprints were found. This gave the researchers remarkably precise dates for the impressions themselves.

 

[King Phenomenon]

Sweet

 

[sun rise]

Some have been ignoring the mounting evidence for humans being here before 16,000 years ago. This is one more good piece of confirming evidence.

 

[RabbiO]

@shunyadragon -

Even 23,000 years ago you couldn’t let teens near a newly installed sidewalk!

 

[Dan From Smithville]

Some have been ignoring the mounting evidence for humans being here before 16,000 years ago. This is one more good piece of confirming evidence.

Maybe they were just passing through on their way to summer in Europe.

 

[shunyadragon]

It is strong evidence for the initial migration to America by water along the coast.

 

[sealchan]

Footprints oldest evidence of humans in the Americas 23,000 years old
Today, 03:51 PM

Source: Earliest definitive evidence of people in Americas



Earliest definitive evidence of people in Americas


By Paul Rincon
Science editor, BBC News website
Published1 hour ago
Share

IMAGE SOURCE,BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITYimage captionThe footprints belonged to teenagers and children who lived between 23,000 and 21,000 years ago

Humans reached the Americas at least 7,000 years earlier than previously thought, according to new findings.

The topic of when the continent was first settled from Asia has been controversial for decades.

Many researchers are sceptical of evidence for humans in the North American interior much earlier than 16,000 years ago.

Now, a team working in New Mexico has found scores of human footprints dated to between 23,000 and 21,000 years old.

The discovery could transform views about when the continent was settled. It suggests there could have been great migrations that we know nothing about. And it raises the possibility that these earlier populations could have gone extinct.

The footprints were formed in soft mud on the margins of a shallow lake which now forms part of Alkali Flat in White Sands.
A team from the US Geological Survey carried out radiocarbon dating on seeds found in sediment layers above and below where the footprints were found. This gave the researchers remarkably precise dates for the impressions themselves.

Cool stuff.

I wonder if anyone has done a statistical analysis for the expected likelihood that footprints, or any fossil evidence for that matter, could be found given the density of population, the likelihood of conditions favorable to civilization, etc...maybe such an analysis might guide expectations for things like how far back a population might have existed based on existing findings in certain geological areas, etc.

Just some thoughts...

 

[YoursTrue]

Footprints oldest evidence of humans in the Americas 23,000 years old
Today, 03:51 PM

Source: Earliest definitive evidence of people in Americas



Earliest definitive evidence of people in Americas


By Paul Rincon
Science editor, BBC News website
Published1 hour ago
Share

IMAGE SOURCE,BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITYimage captionThe footprints belonged to teenagers and children who lived between 23,000 and 21,000 years ago

Humans reached the Americas at least 7,000 years earlier than previously thought, according to new findings.

The topic of when the continent was first settled from Asia has been controversial for decades.

Many researchers are sceptical of evidence for humans in the North American interior much earlier than 16,000 years ago.

Now, a team working in New Mexico has found scores of human footprints dated to between 23,000 and 21,000 years old.

The discovery could transform views about when the continent was settled. It suggests there could have been great migrations that we know nothing about. And it raises the possibility that these earlier populations could have gone extinct.

The footprints were formed in soft mud on the margins of a shallow lake which now forms part of Alkali Flat in White Sands.
A team from the US Geological Survey carried out radiocarbon dating on seeds found in sediment layers above and below where the footprints were found. This gave the researchers remarkably precise dates for the impressions themselves.

Did they decide what type of hominids they were? Been reading about the white stuff that floated around when the first nuclear bomb test was conducted in the US. Betcha it got in the soil, too.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Did they decide what type of hominids they were? Been reading about the white stuff that floated around when the first nuclear bomb test was conducted in the US. Betcha it got in the soil, too.

That is very recent geologically. They would have been Homo sapiens. Even Neanderthals went extinct before that date.

 

[shunyadragon]

Did they decide what type of hominids they were? Been reading about the white stuff that floated around when the first nuclear bomb test was conducted in the US. Betcha it got in the soil, too.

They are homo sapien humans. They were excavated and discovered buried in layers of soft rock strata that is dated and not effected by recent nuclear testing, nor the white stuff(?).

 

[blü 2]

Footprints oldest evidence of humans in the Americas 23,000 years old
Today, 03:51 PM

Source: Earliest definitive evidence of people in Americas



Earliest definitive evidence of people in Americas


By Paul Rincon
Science editor, BBC News website
Published1 hour ago
Share

IMAGE SOURCE,BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITYimage captionThe footprints belonged to teenagers and children who lived between 23,000 and 21,000 years ago

Humans reached the Americas at least 7,000 years earlier than previously thought, according to new findings.

The topic of when the continent was first settled from Asia has been controversial for decades.

Many researchers are sceptical of evidence for humans in the North American interior much earlier than 16,000 years ago.

Now, a team working in New Mexico has found scores of human footprints dated to between 23,000 and 21,000 years old.

The discovery could transform views about when the continent was settled. It suggests there could have been great migrations that we know nothing about. And it raises the possibility that these earlier populations could have gone extinct.

The footprints were formed in soft mud on the margins of a shallow lake which now forms part of Alkali Flat in White Sands.
A team from the US Geological Survey carried out radiocarbon dating on seeds found in sediment layers above and below where the footprints were found. This gave the researchers remarkably precise dates for the impressions themselves.

The one on the left ─ with six toes ─ is that a rare American yeti or just another Bigfoot?

 

[shunyadragon]

The one on the left ─ with six toes ─ is that a rare American yeti or just another Bigfoot?

I do not think it is six toes, maybe, but ah . . . some contemporary families have members of the family having six distinct fingers on each hand.

Likely an irregularity in the foot print,

 

[YoursTrue]

They are homo sapien humans. They were excavated and discovered buried in layers of soft rock strata that is dated and not effected by recent nuclear testing, nor the white stuff(?).

They are homo sapien humans. They were excavated and discovered buried in layers of soft rock strata that is dated and not effected by recent nuclear testing, nor the white stuff(?).

hmm, (I wonder...) But I was looking at the strata of glaciation by the Rocky Mountains. Fascinating, certainly. I'm sure you are very well aware of this as a scientist:
Geology - Glacier National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Because it is so fascinating, and because I do not want to move off the subject of that fabulous photograph linked to right now, I will just stand in awe of it right now.

 

[YoursTrue]

I do not think it is six toes, maybe, but ah . . . some contemporary families have members of the family having six distinct fingers on each hand.

Likely an irregularity in the foot print,

OK, I didn't want to get into this much, but they look like human footprints, don't they, as opposed to gorilla footprints? And while I'm smiling a little I'm not being funny. It's a real question...I don't know yet what a gorilla footprint looks like.

 

[YoursTrue]

They are homo sapien humans. They were excavated and discovered buried in layers of soft rock strata that is dated and not effected by recent nuclear testing, nor the white stuff(?).

Again, that glaciation. Or mud moving melding possibily into the print? Oh, I didn't want to get into that.

 

[YoursTrue]

They are homo sapien humans. They were excavated and discovered buried in layers of soft rock strata that is dated and not effected by recent nuclear testing, nor the white stuff(?).

I don't know, maybe it dissolved and affected the rest of the then mud? The footprints went in the mud, right? And then the mud solidified? (Just asking...)

 

[YoursTrue]

They are homo sapien humans. They were excavated and discovered buried in layers of soft rock strata that is dated and not effected by recent nuclear testing, nor the white stuff(?).

I don't know, maybe it dissolved and affected the rest of the then mud? The footprints went in the mud, right? And then the mud solidified? (Just asking...)

 

[The Hammer]

I don't know yet what a gorilla footprint looks like.

 

[shunyadragon]

hmm, (I wonder...) But I was looking at the strata of glaciation by the Rocky Mountains. Fascinating, certainly. I'm sure you are very well aware of this as a scientist:
Geology - Glacier National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Because it is so fascinating, and because I do not want to move off the subject of that fabulous photograph linked to right now, I will just stand in awe of it right now.

There is no strata of glaciation associated with these rocks where the foot prints are located. They are alluvial floodplain and lake deposits.

I don't know, maybe it dissolved and affected the rest of the then mud? The footprints went in the mud, right? And then the mud solidified? (Just asking...)

No, the radiation involved with nuclear explosions is distinctive and independently detectable, and daring methods do not involve the type of radiation involved with nuclear explosions.

No it did not dissolve and go down 5 to 10 feet below the surface into where the fossil footprints were found.

Yes the footprints are in alluvial sediment flood plain or lake deposits over the past 23,000 years and more., just as take deposits take place today leaving annual seasonal layers No association with glaciation. Nothing associated with dissolving.

 

[YoursTrue]

There is no strata of glaciation associated with these rocks where the foot prints are located. They are alluvial floodplain and lake deposits.



No, the radiation involved with nuclear explosions is distinctive and independently detectable, and daring methods do not involve the type of radiation involved with nuclear explosions.

No it did not dissolve and go down 5 to 10 feet below the surface into where the fossil footprints were found.

Yes the footprints are in alluvial sediment flood plain or lake deposits over the past 23,000 years and more., just as take deposits take place today leaving annual seasonal layers No association with glaciation. Nothing associated with dissolving.

I looked at the article in question again. Maybe I didn't read it carefully enough (?) or misunderstood your comment above, but couldn't find where it said the footprints were 5-10 feet below the surface. Although I'm not saying they were not, but perhaps I missed that statement. This is the article I looked at:
Footprints in New Mexico are oldest evidence of humans in the Americas - BBC News