There are two hypotheses on the migration of early humans in the New World or the Americas. These two hypotheses are the Land Route: Ice-Free Corridor and the Coastal Route hypothesis. According to the theory of Land Route Theory, humans migrated from Siberia to Alaska across a land bridge that were exposed before the start of the Ice Age. It was around 22 to 25 thousand years ago that humans crossed the Bering land where it served as a link to the New World. On the other hand, the Coastal Route hypothesis suggests that humans from East Asia must have traveled the Pacific Ocean by boat with coast open for possible explorations in terms of bountiful marine food source and wide coastal line. These two hypotheses have strong evidences that could support their points.
First, the Land Bridge Theory is also known as the Bering Strait Theory, is the most adapted theory of migration in the New World. The role of ancient Beringia is important in supporting this hypothesis. The ancient land mass connected Siberia to Alaska and signified a valid proof for the Land Bridge Theory. An important archaeological site that connects the early settlements in New World to the crossing of humans through that route is found in Clovis, New Mexico. Artifacts found in the sites of Clovis corresponds with distinct similarities from those that were found near the ancient Beringia. This interrelationship between two archaeological sites could mean that there is a great possibility that those people who came in Beringia are predecessors of those who settled in Clovis (Davidson).
The Coastal Route hypothesis also offer a tangible archaeological proof with the presence of archaeological finds near the British Columbian coast. With this coast, free from ice barriers, it would have been accessible to those sea-explorers. One important site that helps support this hypothesis is at Monte Verde, Chile. It was initially believed that this may not be possible since the thawing of the ice sheet dates about 14,600 years ago. But further studies suggest that the retreat of ice may have happened a couple of thousand year earlier, making the settlement in Monte Verde valid to support the claim of the hypothesis (Misarti et al.). The components on the Monte Verde site even predate those of the Clovis complex. The site is important in proving the importance of coastal settlement and rallies behind the migration through water route using small boats. Additionally, the site pushes the migration of human to the New World at least 14,000 to 14,500 B.P (Fiedel). This settlement was founded in a successive sea exploration of the British Columbian coast as it moves down south further adding to the expansion of human settlement in the New World.
Personally, I find the arguments of the Coastal Route to be more probable because of the extent of settlement in South America. A land migration may not be able to succeed in reaching the Monte Verde site through land travel. Although sea travel may not be vast and cannot succeed in one great voyage. It is through nominal movement from coast to coast that may have succeeded in moving human settlements in the vast area of the New World.
The Upper Paleolithic Revolution
This phase in human history is significant as it is defined with a technological advancement in terms of hunting techniques, human burials and artistic tradition that is built in with organized social behavior. The Upper Paleolithic Period is also known as the “Late Stone Age,” which follows the Middle Paleolithic Period that is characterized by unpolished and unsophisticated stone tools. This period, on the other hand, is characterized by polished stone tool with chip-off blades shaped into an efficient tool for hunting and food sourcing. This adaptation started roughly about 50,000 years ago.
First it is important to distinguish that the hunting tools on this period have developed into a sophisticated and polished stone weapon to improve efficiency in shooting down large or small animals for food. Stones are also used as utensils to cut down food. The flake-like tools are longer compared to the predecessor’s and show a high level of mastery in blade-making. Specialized hunting tools is also evident during this period. Various harpoons are also developed that maximized the hunting skills of early humans (Dibble). Additionally, this advancement enables them to further subsidize and ensure food. Advancement in hunting tools and skills of humans is also linked to the disappearance of megafaunas in the Americas. Human overkill of animals has been attributed to the loss of giant mammals that once roamed the lands in America such as elephants, ground sloths and glyptodonts (Gibbons). This mastery of hunting skill is distinct from the random foraging and hunting of hominids. This skill might have been developed through the capability of humans to adapt to different environments and as a consequence of pressure from the environment and their physiological needs to feed themselves well and ensure an abundant source of food by being capable of accessing food quicker.
Another important social difference of early humans in Upper Paleolithic to its predecessors is the concept of human burial. In the earlier period, evidence of human remains such as bones is only seen in random place without organized pits and ceremonial materials for burial. It is notable during the Upper Paleolithic period that excavated human remains are deposited in specialized pits with some bones contained in containers together with ornamental accessories that have social significance. This type of burial is seen in Pavilan Cave in Wales. The grave site includes perforated seashells; and bracelets and pendants from mammoth ivory. The burial is also covered with clay as a type of seal that could contain the corpse (Pettitt). This form of social behavior becomes a distinct difference from the hominids.
But, it is the remarkable adaptation of early humans during the Upper Paleolithic to denote artistic symbols on different things as well in relation to their social tradition of human burial. The seemingly socialized and organized group of settlers also created art in the form of itching, painting, and carving. The cave paintings in Lascaux, France suggest the developed ability to make representation of an object through drawings and describe their surroundings by including animals and hunting scenes (Leroi-Gourhan). This evidence showed an advanced capability of humans at the time compared to the hominids to recognize the spatial representation and the skill of drawing.
These three significant changes in behavior and cultural adaptation during the Upper Paleolithic Period also shows an increase in sophistication in terms of technology. There has been a marked improvement from the settlements during this time as they become more skilled in hunting, the less they need to move in search for food. The apparent trend would continue on until the advent of agriculture in which settlements have transformed into agricultural settlements.
Reference
Misarti, Nicole et al. 'Early Retreat of the Alaska Peninsula Glacier Complex and the Implications for Coastal Migrations of First Americans'. Quaternary Science Reviews 48 (2012): 1--6. Print.s
Fiedel, Stuart J. 'The Peopling of the New World: Present Evidence, New Theories, And Future Directions'. Journal of Archaeological Research 8.1 (2000): 39--103. Print.
Davidson, James West. Experience History. 1st ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2011. Print.
Dibble, Harold L. 'Paleolithic Archaeology: The Search for Our Human Heritage'. Expedition 34.3 (1992): 20-21. Print.
Gibbons, Robin. 'Examining the Extinction of the Pleistocene Megafauna'. Print.
Pettitt, Paul. The Palaeolithic Origins of Human Burial. 1st ed. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2011. Print.
Leroi-Gourhan, Arlette. 'The Archaeology of Lascaux Cave'. Scientific American 246.6 (1982): 104--112. Print.
