The American Gospel (in two part harmony):

Clovis First and the Mackenzie corridor

Naco, Arizona Clovis cache

Clovis Point Mounted to Shaft

Atl atls: a Folsom tool

Folsom Point

The American Gospel (new testament):

3 Waves of Migration Supported by:

Archaeological Evidence (e.g. Clovis & Folsom)Linguistic evidence (Greenberg and Nichols)Genetic evidence (Cavalli-Sforza)Biological evidence (Turner and others)Geological evidence • Mackenzie Corridor (aka ice-free corridor)• Known existence of Beringia in late Pleistocene

Linguistic Evidence: Nichols and Greenberg

Dates BP

Linguistic & Genetic Evidence

32,000 ancestors of Amerindian speakers(now distributed over nearly all of the Americas)

11,000 - 14,000

ancestors of Na-Diné speakers(distributed over the northern half of North America)

6,800 - 7,400

ancestors of Eskimo-Aleut speakers(distributed in the northernmost part of North America)

Genetic Evidence: Cavalli-Sforza et al.

mtDNA analysis shows only four major groups of mtDNA in Native AmericansThese patterns are only found in America and AsiaDistribution of the traits shows a likely model of 3 “waves” of migration

First (Amerindian) 26-34,000 BPSecond (Amerindian) 12-15,000 BPThird (Na-Diné) 7-9,000 BP

Dental Evidence: Turner

Shoveled Incisors

Geological Evidence: Accessibility of Possible Routes

Dates BC Beringia"Land Bridge"

Coastal Route

Mackenzie Corridor

38,000-34,000

accessible (open)

open closed

34,000-30,000

submerged (closed)

open open

30,000-22,000

accessible (open)

closed open

22,000-15,000

accessible (open)

open closed

15,000 BC - today

submerged (closed)

open open

Hypothesis: Constant Native Presence

Supported by some oral historiesRefuted by:

Lack of evidence for infinite human occupationDisparity of agreement in native mythsScientific findings of people who just don’t look “Indian” e.g. the 9000 year old Kennewick Man in 1996

Hypothesis: European Origins

Supported by Stanford’s “Solutrean Solution” Fluted points and toolkits are nearly identicalRed ochre useCaching of large bifaces and other stockBrown et al. report mtDNA similarities

Refuted by: No boatsNo direct archaeological ties4500 year time gap between Clovis and Solutrean

Hypothesis:Pacific Crossing

Supported by:Age estimates at Monte Verde, Chile and other sites (12,000 to 30,000 BP)Morphology of ancient remains like LuziaMorphology of modern Tierra del Fuegans

Refuted by:Lack of evidence for boatsCould also be explained by an overland journey

Hypothesis: Pacific Coastal Route

Supported by:Daryl Fedje’s work off Queen CharlotteRecent evidence suggesting no ice-free corridor between 21,000 and 11,500 BPConsistent with much of “Clovis First”, but accounts for earlier dates now accepted

Refuted by:Difficulty of underwater excavation to build more solid case

Native American Origins:What are the Possibilities?