“I have been here since the world began…” The peopling of the Americas: Archaeological and Aboriginal Perspectives

Theories of First Peoples’ Origins There are two views regarding the origins of First Peoples in North America: Archaeological Perspective: First Peoples arrived from somewhere else. Aboriginal Perspective: First Peoples were always there.

A. Archaelogical Perspective The archaeological perspective consists of 3 different theories as to how the First Peoples came to North America: Land Route Pacific Route Atlantic Route

A critical note on human migration In order for a people to migrate or explore a different region, 3 things must exist: 1. Need (a reason to go) 2. The means (a way to get there) 3. Motive (what is there fills a need)

1. The Land Route Theory This theory states that during the last Ice Age, seawaters were so low that a land bridge spanned the 90 km distance between Alaska and Siberia.

1. The Land Route Theory This vast, grassy plain was called Beringia. The first peoples came across this land bridge chasing big game animals such as bison, caribou and mammoths.

Beringia

2. The Pacific Route Theory This theory states that the first peoples crossed the Pacific Ocean by watercraft from Polynesia and Australia.

2. The Pacific Route Theory Fossil evidence of sea and land mammals suggests that there were enough natural resources at that time for coastal people to survive.

3. The Atlantic Route Theory This theory states that people came from Southern Europe by navigating small watercraft, or walking on the borders of glaciers.

3. The Atlantic Route Theory Genetic markers have shown similarities in DNA between Aboriginals and Europeans – similarities not found between Aboriginals and Asians.

B. Aboriginal Perspective First Nations’ beliefs, supported by legends and oral histories, state that aboriginal people were always here.

B. Aboriginal Perspective These creation stories are told differently, according to different aboriginal traditions, but they share the same idea: that this is aboriginals’ homeland.

The Peopling of the Americas   “A long time ago, the land rose out of the water, the ice retreated, and the people were able to travel freely across the land.” “On all sides, the land grew larger, until at last it formed a great country, one where trees and plants could grow.”

The Peopling of the Americas   “A long time ago, the land rose out of the water, the ice retreated, and the people were able to travel freely across the land.”  [View widely held by archaeologists about the peopling of the Americas] “On all sides, the land grew larger, until at last it formed a great country, one where trees and plants could grow.” [Quote from the Wendat (Huron) creation story]

Paleo-Indian Peoples Entered North America during the final stages of the glacial period (ice age). Would have entered roughly between 45,000 BCE and 12,000 BCE. It is believed they would have been following large herds of migrating animals, first across the Bering Strait land bridge into Alaska and then southward, spreading throughout the continent.

Paleo-Indian Peoples Stone tools such as spear heads and scrapers have been found and dated by archaeologists to this group of people and time period. Evidence such as DNA, genetics, language and blood-type distribution have found similarities between North American populations and Siberian populations.

Paleo-Indian Peoples Between 8,000 BCE and 7,000 BCE the climate would have stabilized. This allowed for a more semi-nomadic lifestyle for these people, leaving them to be somewhat nomadic, but within a hunting area smaller than before. Evidence has placed Paleo-Indian populations throughout Canada and the US, as far east as the Atlantic coast, and as far south as Chile.

Clovis People Appeared around 11,500 BCE Named for their distinctive bone and ivory tools and weapons. Believed to be the first Paleo-Indian tribe or people to populate the Americas. Used ‘fluted’ shaped spear and arrow heads. These had a specific serrated edges that looked like Christmas trees. Once inside their prey, they could only come out when ripped out.

Clovis People There are many theories surrounding their demise, including an extinction of their food source, a climatic change, and a comet impact. Other cultures that fall under the umbrella of Paleo-Indian followed, leading to the tribes of present day First Nations.

Folsom People Came after the Clovis people. Did not use fluted shaped weaponry. Their weaponry had a smoother, rounded spear or arrow head (a distinct characteristic that separates the two types of early people).

Folsom point vs. a Clovis point

Stage 2: Archaic Period As glaciers retreated and the climate changed, a mass extinction of big game animals occurred. The people would have created more sophisticated ways of hunting and ways to add to their diets with other sources of food besides big game. This is considered the second stage of human occupation of the Americas. (8,000-2,000 BCE)

Stage 2: Archaic Period Discovery and use of seeds, nuts, and shellfish in diets of inhabitants Sites have been discovered by archaeologists both inland along waterways, and on both Pacific and Atlantic coastlines. The period is considered to have ended with the adoption/ discovery of farming which created a sedentary lifestyle for many people.

Stage 3: Formative Period 1,000BCE to 500 CE Societies in this period are believed to have discovered and used things such as pottery, weaving and food production. Social development has included sedentary or semi-sedentary towns or villages. In some cases, a class of priests or spiritual leaders developed.

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