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Ancient DNA evidence narrows down when people first reached the Americas
One of the unresolved mysteries about the history of the Americas is when the first people arrived. Despite extensive debate centering on genetic, archaeological and environmental evidence, there is still no consensus or conclusive proof.
AI Summary
Researchers led by Bethany Potter at the University of Kansas reviewed published ancient DNA studies to reassess three migration models for the first peoples of the Americas. The models propose arrival before the Last Glacial Maximum (over 25,000 years ago), during the peak of the ice age (between 20,000 and 14,000 years ago), or after its end (under 14,000 years ago). The review found new genetic evidence that narrows the possible timeframe, suggesting a more precise window for when these ancestors entered the continent.
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