Monday, July 18, 2005

New Scientist Breaking News - Footprints rewrite history of first Americans

New Scientist Breaking News - Footprints rewrite history of first Americans: "Footprints rewrite history of first Americans

* 10:59 05 July 2005
* NewScientist.com news service
* Robert Adler

Hundreds of human and animal footprints were preserved in a layer of ash from a nearby volcano (Image: Bournemouth University)
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Hundreds of human and animal footprints were preserved in a layer of ash from a nearby volcano (Image: Bournemouth University)
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Human footprints discovered beside an ancient Mexican lake have been dated to 40,000 years ago. If the finding survives the controversy it is bound to stir up, it means that humans must have moved into the New World at least 30,000 years earlier than previously thought.

“If true, this would completely change our view of how and when the Americas were first colonised,” says Chris Stringer, head of human origins at the Natural History Museum in London, UK. But like several US experts, he is reserving judgement until the dates can be independently confirmed."

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