Peopling North America ANTH 221: Peoples and Cultures of Mexico Kimberly Martin, Ph.D.

How We Reconstruct Geography and Climate Physical Anthropology – Genetics (Mitochondrial DNA, Y Chromosome DNA) – Anatomy Archaeology – Stratigraphy – Seriation – Chemical dating methods – Technology – Lifestyles Cultural Anthropology – Linguistics

Geography and Climate Pathways to the New World – Coastal/Boat Migration Dates in South America too early for land migration Australia populated 40,000 YA without a land route – Beringia Land Bridge Ice ages pulled water out of oceans, sea levels dropped Lots of archaeological evidence in areas consistent with Beringia

Coastal Migration Routes Southeast Asian, Japanese, Polynesian and European boat building traditions going back at least as far as 20,000 years ago (Japan) Boat building materials do not survive Evidence of coastal subsistence based on marine mammals, fishing, shell-fish, gathering rather than big game herding.

Coastal Migration Routes From Southeast Asia routes north along coast and ice From Northern Europe (Scandanavia, Britain) to Iceland to Greenland to North America – Clovis-Solutrean Hypothesis

Coastal Migration Routes North Pacific Before 23,000 After 15,000 YA North Atlantic

Beringia Land Bridge Connects Siberia and Alaska

McKenzie Corridor

Berengia Dates Dates BCEBeringiaPacific Coastal Route Mackenzie Corridor 38, ,000 Accessible (open) OpenClosed 34, ,000 Submerged (closed) Open 30, ,000 Accessible (open) ClosedOpen 22, ,000 Accessible (open) OpenClosed 15,000- today Submerged (closed) Open

DNA E Evidence LGM = Last Glacial Maximum 20,000 Years Ago A2, B2, Clb, Clc, Cld, C4c, Dl, D4h3, X2a = genetic markers that indicate a relationship with the first migrants. A2a, D2, D2a, Cla = mutated genetic markers that evolved in North America and were carried back to Asia through back-migration. One ancestral population between 42,000 and 21,000 YA

Physical Anthropology The interocular distance is broad, The nasal angle is blunt rather than sharp, The nasal aperture is broad from top to bottom; The cheekbones are wide, The palate has a somewhat rounded shape, The incisors in the upper jaw are prominently shovel-shaped, No edge-on-edge incisal bite. The nasal root is prominent The nasal angle is acute. The nasal spine is short Sharp lower nasal sill with a very vague impression of bilateral gutters. The upper dental arcade is somewhat V-shaped. The incisors in the upper jaw are blade-like. Nasal root is depressed and the nasal angle is obtuse. Nasal aperture is broad from top to bottom. Lower part of the nostrils has a bilateral gutter and there is no sill. Upper dental arcade has a somewhat rectangular shape. Incisors in the upper jaw are blade- like The face projects forward to a mild to moderate degree. African Male Skull European Male Skull Asian Male Skull

Physical Anthropology Blade-shaped (left) incisors Vs. shovel-shaped incisors (right)

Dental Arch Variation

Some Archaeological Dates Clovis Culture (tools) 11,000 YA 16,500 – 13,000 YA Pre Clovis sites in Pennsylvania and Chili TWO THEORIES Short Chronology - 15,000-17,000 YA Long Chronology - two waves of migration – 40,000-21,000 YA w/ ancestors in South America – multiple waves more recently w/ ancestors in North America

Language Affinities Only One Linguistic Relationship Established at this point: RECENT FINDING THAT THESE ARE RELATED: Ket, from western Siberia (almost extinct Na-Dene languages -- Athabascan tribes in Alaska, Tlingit and Eyak people, as well as Indian populations in western Canada and the American Southwest, including the Navajo and the Apache.

Problems with Reconstruction Lack of archaeological sites Wide range of dates Conflicting dates Disagreement about the validity of dates New technology in genetics