A team of scientists have now reported that they’ve found evidence that humans may have arrived in the Americas far earlier than originally thought. In an article published in the journal Science Advances, researchers explored the Limoncocha Site in Ecuador and discovered artifacts that are between 12,000 and 14,000 years old, dating back to the end of the last Ice Age.
This is significantly earlier than most archaeological and genetic evidence of human presence in the Americas, which has generally suggested humans only arrived about 14,000 to 15,000 years ago. The discovery of the artifacts suggests that humans may have been living in what is now Ecuador as early as 17,000 years ago.
This find offers new insight into the possible routes and timelines of human migration from Asia to the Americas. The team of scientists believes that their findings suggest the ancient humans who made these artifacts may have traveled along a coastal route in a pacific way.
This information is extremely valuable to our understanding of the earliest humans in the Americas, as it indicates the potential early settlement of the area. This may not only be significant in terms of human history, but also have implications for understanding the importance of transportation networks for the spread of culture and information.
The team of scientists is continuing to investigate the Limoncocha Site, hoping to unearth more information about the original human inhabitants of the Americas. Regardless of what they find, it is clear that this initial discovery will provide important new insights into human migration and the history of the Americas.