Module 2 - Lecture 4: The Peopling of the Americas Flashcards
why is the arrival of people in the Americas so debatable?
-> little material evidence
-> not well contextualized
-> no proof of indigenous presence
what was Beringia?
- a landmass that bridged Alaska and SE Asia
where were paleoarctic groups found? what was their significance?
-> found in Alaska between 12.5 - 8 kya
-> multiple cultural traditions
-> micro blades, spear points
what were the two migration routes? when were they open?
- “ice free” corridor 13 kya
- pacific coast 15 kya
where were pre-clovis groups found?
-> found in all the Americas
what was found at the white sands pre-clovis site?
-> earliest evidence of indigenous presence
-> footprints (human and megafauna 23 kya)
what was found at the meadowcroft rockshelter site?
-> multiple occupations of human groups
-> multiple stone tools / bifaces
what was found at the monte verde site?
mastodon hide tents, wood beams, very well preserved
what was found at the huaca prieta site?
very basic stone tools, weighted sea traps, shellfish diet evidence
CLOVIS CULTURE
-> where were they found?
-> what was significant?
-> found in North America
-> clovis tool industry (11 - 13 kya)
-> projectile points hafted onto spears, thrown with atlatls
-> highly mobile
-> large-game hunters
-> shared material culture across N. America (never happened again)
what was found at blackwater draw (clovis) site?
-> clovis points embedded into bison bones
what was found at the lehner (clovis) site?
-> points associated with various animals
-> first evidence of hearth use
what is a clovis cache?
holes where clovis people placed objects of value (e.g. unused clovis points) - possible ritualistic significance
what is the push hypothesis for migration?
-> changing climates (ice was harsh)
-> demographic pressure
what is the pull hypothesis for migration?
-> curiosity / wanderlust
-> following megafauna
