Arrival of first Americans pushed back
Friday, April 4, 2008
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The discovery of fossilized human feces in a cave in Oregon has scientists pushing back the arrival of the first Americans.
The 14,000-year-old sample of human protein is at least 1,000 years older than "Clovis" artifacts that scientists believe represent the first Americans. DNA from the sample was genetically similar to present-day Native people, researchers said.
Some scientists are disputing the dating of the material. They say the cave could be contaminated with other types of human and non-human samples.
The Oregon site is not the oldest-dated site in the Americas either. Monte Verde in Chile is said to be 14,600 years old.
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Evidence Supports Earlier Date for People in North America (The New York Times 4/4)
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