Peopling of the Americas: Mounting Evidence for an Earlier Arrival

Abstract: As the list of pre-Clovis sites continues to grow, the date of human arrival in the Americas is being pushed back. Some sites offer compelling evidence for human presence in the Americas 25-30,000 years ago. There is genetic evidence that not only pushes back the timeline, but also shows a rapid and complex peopling of the two continents. Water travel, migrations, population turnover and more exciting discoveries through genetic research on ancient human remains are significant to archaeological research and future study of first colonization. Sites once completely dismissed are now gaining more attention. South America continues to yield data that colonization was very early, and newly discovered biogeographic evidence shows a consistent presence on the land.
Speaker Bio: Emily Seabold is a recent graduate from MSU Denver with a Bachelor's in Anthropology, minoring in Sustainability. She has mentored middle school students in Archaeology and technology through Kids Tek and the Academic Mentors Program. She has a professional background in biological survey preceding her degree at Metro. She is currently working in Cultural Resource Management as she navigates applying for Masters programs.