Colonization of the New World Oct 16, 2013The Spread of Homo sapiens sapiensAfrica: 160,000 BPEurope: 35,000 BPAsia – Laos: 63,000 BPAsia – Western Siberia, Mal’ta: 22,000 BPStructures made from animal bones, dense accumulations of large animal bonesAustralia – Willandra Lakes Region: 40,000-30,000 BPFreshwater shell midden and AMHSS remains found inlandConsistent with Out of Africa ModelAustralia – Kow Swamp: 13,000-10,000 BPAlan Thorne discovered remains of 22 individuals in 1970sNon-AMHSS: brow ridges, big faces, low skulls, receding foreheadsRetention of older traits? Artificial cranial deformation?However, modern Aborigines are completely AMHSSThorne argues may support Multiregional TheoryReburied at request of Australian AboriginesEastern Siberia – D’uktai Cave: 14,000 BPMochanov found mamoth bones, stone choppers, projectile points, microbladesMicroblades are new technology: very small blades from a small coreCemented into side slots on a wooden shaft; salmon harpoons?Eastern Siberia – Ushki: 13,000 BPDikov found evidence for exploitation of mammoth, bison, reindeer, salmonColonization of the New WorldSea level was 120m below present levels during Last Glacial Maximum (20,000 BP)Created Beringia: 600-700mi wide flat land bridge btwn Siberia and N.America24,000-17,000 BP: Beringia impassable; too much ice14,700-14,000 BP: Ice Free Corridor and Coastal Corridor open up12,900 BP: Berinigia submergesClovis: 13,300-12,900 BPMarked by distinctive projectile points (Fluted points)Requires tremendous amount of skillAssociated with skeletons of large mammals (ex: mammoths)Continuation of interior big game hunting from Siberia?Clovis First Advocates:Claim Clovis was the very first archaeological culture in N.AmericaAssemblage of artifacts repeatedly associated in similar dwellingsSubunit of culture: closely related artifact types co-occurring1Pre-Clovis: Culture before ClovisMeadowcroft Shelter, Pennsylvania (Advosio) – 14,000 BPPaisley Cave (Gilbert and Jenkins) – 14,000 BPFossilized human feces; coprolitesExtracted coprolite DNA and fecal sample; compared w/ modern DNAMonte Verde, Chile (Dillehay) – 14,000 BPLand covered by wetlands for 14,000 years; preserved organicsRemains of wooden structures, tent stakes, bola stone and twine, cordageNo fluted points, only one mammoth bone, nuts and plant foodVerifies theory of a coastal migration into AmericaColonization of the New World Oct 21, 2013Possibility of Coastline MigrationMonte Verde, Chile (Dillehay) – 14,000 BPDillehay found charred kelp at site, 40 miles from coastDaisy Cave, San Miguel Island (Erlandson) – 12,500 BPArlington Man, Santa Rosa Island (Johnson) – 13,000-11,000 BPSkeleton found eroding out of 27-ft deep sediment layerSuggests significant antiquity; could be oldest skeletonKennewick Man Site, Washington (Chatters) – 9,200 BP“Caucasian” skeleton w/ Cascade projectile point embedded in hipCascade projectiles normally 6-7kya; skeleton was 9kyaCouldn’t DNA scan b/c of NAGPRANative American Graves Protection and Repatriation ActIshi, “Last wild California Indian” requested cremationInstead, anthropologists cut out his brain; pickled for 80yClosest match is actually Ainu of Hokkaido (indigenous Japan)Bradley and Stanford claim possible colonization from EuropeClovis points similar to Solutrean Tools from Europe (17,000 BP)Concentration of Clovis closer to east coast near EuropeMegafaunal Extinction TheoriesPleistocene Overkill Hypothesis:Several species of megafauna went extinct near the end of the PleistoceneMartin claims humans overhunted animals and caused mass extinctionOlsen-Chubbock Site: humans drove bison herd off a cliffClimate Change Theory:Animals couldn’t handle rapid warming trendExtraterrestrial Impact Theory (Kennetts, 2007):12,900 BP a comet exploded and caused megafaunal extinctionTriggered younger dryas period: sudden 1ky dip in temperatureBlack mat: thick charcoal layer@12,900y; megafauna found below but not above2Found nanodiamonds: microscopic diamonds produced by detonationsColonization of the Pacific Oct 23, 2013Final Frontier: OceaniaPacific Islands settled by Polynesian people originating from Southeast AsiaJames Cook sailed Polynesia (Time of European Contact)Noted complex sailing vessels w/ double hulls and housesInhabited every island, so must possess accurate navigation7000 BCE – Pigs/Chickens domesticated in SE Asia4300 BCE – Farmers migrate to Taiwan3300 BCE – Arrival in Philippines1500 BCE – Arrival in East Melanesia with Lapita pottery200 BCE – Settlement of Marquesas“Long Pause” in Polynesian colonization; get stuck in Fiji800-1200 CE – Arrival in Hawaii, Easter Island, New ZealandGiant Moa (10m high, 75 tons) found on Easter IslandMiniature versions found on smaller islandsComplex migration route known through archaeology, linguistics, and genetic studiesAll islands in Pacific triangle speak similar languagesLapita pottery: distinctive red clay pots w/ complex puncture mark patternsFound on numerous islands; must have had contactDiffusion: spread of cultural traits via direct contactGeoff Irwin used computer technology to simulate Polynesian voyaging (1970s-P)Could not have arrived at Hawaii through random sailing (“Drift Voyaging”)Must have had an intentional, motivated reason for explorationSent boats into the wind; could easily turn around if in troubleFinney proved Polynesian navigation was sophisticated enough for explorationCould navigate between islands using primitive navigation methodsPossible Transatlantic Contact between Polynesia and AmericaDistribution of the Sweet Potato:Wild sweet potato are only found in South/Central AmericaHowever, was being grown all over the Pacific IslandsSuggests contact between South America and Pacific IslandsDated sweet potato remains to 1000 BCEOlder than when James Cook arrivedWord for “sweet potato” in South America and Polynesia are similarHeyerdahl argued sweet potato came from South AmericaBelieved a primitive one-way water craft drifted to PolynesiaTested theory and barely made it to Polynesian islandsHowever, S.American languages are not similar to Polynesian languagesTwo-way voyage from Polynesia more likelySimilarities found between Chile and Polynesia3Sewn-plank boat technology found only in Chile, Chumash, and PacificSimilar linguistics for boat in Chumash and PolynesiaSame tools used to make canoes in Chumash/PolynesiaSimilar fishhook technology in