Early Humans Survived an American Ice Age, Archaeologists Say

The discovery of three carved bones from 27,000 years ago could rewrite the history of the Americas, or it could join a heap of similar discoveries that fell short of such a grand goal.

By Matt Hrodey
Jul 20, 2023 7:15 PM
3D rendering of the pendant with two holes.
(Credit: Thaís Pansani and Pierre Gueriau)

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Humans lived in South America many thousands of years earlier than previously believed, during the height of the Last Ice Age. A new archaeological study discovered this by analyzing a trio of necklaces made from ground sloth bones.

The project wades into an ongoing debate over when and how Homo sapiens, who evolved in Africa and first spread to Europe and Asia, made it to the relatively remote Americas.

How Did Humans Settle the Americas?

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