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Archeological analysis of the oldest settlements in the Americas

André Prous

Museu de História Natural e Faculdade de Filosofia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Rua Gustavo da Silveira, 1035, 31080-010 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. Fone: (031) 463 2422 ou 461 7666 ramal 5. Fax: (031) 461 7486

ABSTRACT

During the last 20 years, new evidence of pre-Clovis cultures in America has appeared. After we show why putative archaeological finds are so polemic in Pleistocene context, ancient claims mainly Brazilian ones, are revisited (Toca da Esperança, Itaborai, Pedra Furada, Lapa Vermelha, Alice Boer). No archaeological find dated more than 12 or 13,000 BP has been able to convince all scholars. Some have stratigraphic disturbances, others dubious dating, or putative structures and artifacts could have been made by natural processes.
By 12,000 BP, instruments and structures point obviously to an effective presence of Man in both Americas.
For some archaeologists, there is evidence of at least two main technological traditions in America during the Clovis period, that point to the entrance of several groups into the continent. Otherwise, independent cultural evolution in North vs. South America, 11,500 BP would suggest a Iona previous adaptation of Man during the Pleistocene period.

Keywords: archeological analysis; oldest settlements; Americas.

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