Recent research has bolstered the dating of fossilized human footprints found in White Sands National Park, New Mexico. This supports the idea that humans inhabited North America during the last Ice Age.
Scientists used radiocarbon dating of organic materials like wetland sediments, lake sediments, pollen, and seeds. They determined the footprints date back between 20,700 and 22,400 years ago. This aligns with previous estimates of 21,000 to 23,000 years.
These findings challenge the previous belief that human occupation of North America began around 16,000 years ago. The footprints, first identified in 2021, were made by hunter-gatherers crossing the alluvial plains surrounding ancient Lake Otero.
This area, once rich in flora and fauna, including mammoths and dire wolves, provided vital resources during a colder, wetter climate. While some initially questioned the dating of seeds and pollen, new evidence from multiple organic sources and laboratories strongly supports early human presence.
Researchers emphasize that the site provides only a snapshot of human movement, rather than a permanent occupation. This leaves key questions about the origins and destinations of these early inhabitants unanswered.