Nia Gavia
U.S History Period 9
August 13, 2014
The History and Mystery of Early Man
The history of early man has sparked many debates and much controversy for many decades. Little evidence remains of the early adventures of man, and much of what remains is purely speculation. Among the wild theories and outlandish suggestions made by both historians and everyday bloggers, three main theories have stood the test of time. These theories have been accepted by some and strongly refuted by others, continuing an age old controversy surrounding a simple question: who were the first humans, and how did they get here?
The first widely accepted theory was deemed the Bering land bridge theory. This was the idea that 13,500 years ago, the cold temperatures caused the Earth's oceans to freeze. These large deposits of ice on land, caused sea levels to drop,exposing the sea bed between Siberia and Alaska. This in turn allowed early man to literally walk to the New World. The the discovered locations of the Clovis points in the in the area suggested to be the Land Bridge validates the timing of the bridge, therefore suggesting that it could possibly have been the way that early Americans travel from Asia to the Americas.This concept was widely accepted for many years, and was substantiated by similar spear points found in Clovis, New Mexico. These points, deemed Clovis points, led to the Bering Land Ridge theory evolving into the Clovis first theory, stating that the Native Americans crossed to the Americas through the land bridge, then became cut off from other peoples when the glaciers melted and raised sea levels. The points and the timing seemed for a long time to fit perfectly in a logical way. But this theory did nit remain unchallenged.
Many researchers were so satisfied with the Clovis first, that they did not endeavor to look further than the timing suggested in the theory for Clovis points. But eventually researchers, like Jim Adovasio decided to investigate further into the past. Using undisturbed bear caves from ancient times, Dr. Adovasio discovered the existence of native American passage into the Americas before 13,500 B.C, possibly debunking the Clovis theory. New theories developed, one of which being that the early humans may have traveled by sea along the Alaskan coast. Scientific research proved the theory to be plausible, but little to no evidence has surfaced suggesting a sea voyage. This new theory shook the foundation of what most people believed at the time, but carbon dating, archeological digging, and DNA evidence began to chip away the Clovis theory bit by bit. This theory did begin to gain ground, but surprisingly, another more radical theory was on its way.
A historian was studying Clovis points, and remembered a kind if spear point existed that had been made in Europe long before Clovis people. Since no points were found in Asia, where it was thought the people originated, he began to tamper with the idea that the first Clovis point came from Europe instead. This idea was immediately attached, and seem very far fetched, but similarities in spear points found in Europe and Cactus Hill seemed to tie the theory together. With all three theories gaining significant numbers of followers, it is hard to determine which had more ground.
Looking at all of the evidence, I am inclined to believe the coastal sea voyage theory. The Clovis theory has been thoroughly disproven. DNA evidence, carbon dating, and the clovis points themselves have proven that the timeline surrounding the theory is very wrong. The Solutrean theory has its merits, but its basis, that the spear points found in Europe and cactus hill match the Clovis point, does not seem strong enough to be plausible. The points are not similar enough to be the strong point keeping the theory alive. The last remaining theory is plausible using tools from the age, and it would explain the lack of evidence.even though that is the theory I agree with most strongly, there are still many questions that I have surrounding the mystery of early man.
