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 Americans These patterns are only found in America and Asia Distribution of the traits shows a likely model of 3 “waves” of migration First (Amerindian) 26-34,000 BP Second (Amerindian) 12-15,000 BP Third (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) 30,000-22,000 22,000-15,000 15,000 BC - today

Hypothesis: Constant Native Presence Supported by some oral histories Refuted by: Lack of evidence for infinite human occupation Disparity of agreement in native myths Scientific 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 identical Red ochre use Caching of large bifaces and other stock Brown et al. report mtDNA similarities Refuted by: No boats No direct archaeological ties 4500 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 Luzia Morphology of modern Tierra del Fuegans Refuted by: Lack of evidence for boats Could also be explained by an overland journey

Hypothesis: Pacific Coastal Route Supported by: Daryl Fedje’s work off Queen Charlotte Recent evidence suggesting no ice-free corridor between 21,000 and 11,500 BP Consistent 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?