Exploring the Origins of the First Americans

The first Americans were Paleo-Indians, crossing the Bering Land Bridge from Siberia to Alaska during the last Ice Age, approximately 13,000 years ago.

Named after distinctive stone tools found near Clovis, New Mexico, the Clovis culture from around 13,200 years ago is considered one of the earliest widespread prehistoric cultures in North America.

Evidence like footprints in White Sands, New Mexico, suggests human presence over 23,000 years ago, challenging the Clovis-first theory and suggesting a much earlier migration.

Genetic studies indicate multiple ancestral sources for Native Americans, hinting at complex migration patterns beyond the initial Bering crossing.

Complex societies like the Mississippians built vast cities, such as Cahokia, with advanced agriculture, trade networks, and mound structures, long before European contact.

The arrival of the first Americans coincided with the extinction of many large animals like mammoths, possibly due to overhunting and climate change.

With thousands of languages and diverse cultures, Native American societies were rich and varied, from the Inuit in the Arctic to the Mapuche in southern Chile.

Fossilized human feces in Oregon revealed a genetic link to modern Siberians, proving ancient transcontinental connections over 14,000 years ago.