North American History

Genetics, a singular migration?

55,000 BCE

While studying the mtDNA, new theory emerged that it was a singular migration over the span of thousands of years. mtDNA being passed down in females showed different migrational patterns than studies with males.

Beringia Land Bridge Theory

35,000 BCE

The traditional theory that humans reached the American continent on foot through a land bridge. They also suggest that dispersing groups reached Beringia during the Last Glacial Maximum (dated to ca. 18,000–24,000 cal BP)

Pacific Coastal route

20,000 BCE

Theory that the migration of people into the continent followed the Pacific coastline. The people would have traveled in boats and hunted marine animals

N. Atlantic Coastal (Solutrean Hypothesis)

20,000 BCE

The theory that suggest Europeans crossed the Atlantic (on an ice bridge) and populated the American continent. The theory relies on the similarities of the Clovis point and those of the Solutrean people (of southern Europe). Out of the three theories, it is the most unlikely.
Rejection of Solutrean hypothesis

Technology developed in Northwest.

16,000 BCE

Picture depicts paleo-enviromental conditions in Northwest.
16,045 to 15,725 cal yr B.P. for the initial occupation at the site based on projectiles found in Cooper's Ferry site. Earlier than the Clovis projectiles.

Clovis projectiles.

13,200 BCE

Distinctive projectile points were being used by the inhabitants to hunt megafauna. The use of stone projectiles would be well preserved for future studies. Megafauna included bison, mammoths, and giant sloths. The points were found at kill sites.

Early Archaic

10,900 BCE

Archaic was the shift to hunting smaller game and focusing on gathering. Due to end of ice age, there was an extinction of the megafauna Pleistocene Extinction grinding implements like the mano/metate and pestle/mortar were increasingly present.

Anzick Clovis Site

10,800 BCE

DNA testing of a small boy connects him to South American groups and originated from Asian group, supporting the Pacific Coastal Theory.

(Anzick)

Kennewick Man lives

9200 BCE

This man's remains genetically linked to modern-day Colville tribal members. Scientist who studied the remains suggest he might have been a seal hunter, spent a lot of time in the water and lived with broken ribs. Tribe members want to bury his remains. Indigenous groups and scientist have clashed at times due to differing beliefs.

Inuit, Yupik and Aleut

8000 BCE

Linguistic evidence suggests that Inuit, Yupik and Aleut migrated from North East Asia after the last glaciation.