Timeline: North American History

55,000 BCE

Genetics, a singular migration?

While studying the mtDNA, new theory emerged that it was a singular migration over the span of thousands of years. mtDNA being passed down in females showed different migrational patterns than studies with males.

35,000 BCE

Beringia Land Bridge Theory

The traditional theory that humans reached the American continent on foot through a land bridge. They also suggest that dispersing groups reached Beringia during the Last Glacial Maximum (dated to ca. 18,000–24,000 cal BP)

20,000 BCE

Pacific Coastal route

Theory that the migration of people into the continent followed the Pacific coastline. The people would have traveled in boats and hunted marine animals

20,000 BCE

N. Atlantic Coastal (Solutrean Hypothesis)

The theory that suggest Europeans crossed the Atlantic (on an ice bridge) and populated the American continent. The theory relies on the similarities of the Clovis point and those of the Solutrean people (of southern Europe). Out of the three theories, it is the most unlikely.
Rejection of Solutrean hypothesis

16,000 BCE

Technology developed in Northwest.

Picture depicts paleo-enviromental conditions in Northwest.
16,045 to 15,725 cal yr B.P. for the initial occupation at the site based on projectiles found in Cooper's Ferry site. Earlier than the Clovis projectiles.

13,200 BCE

Clovis projectiles.

Distinctive projectile points were being used by the inhabitants to hunt megafauna. The use of stone projectiles would be well preserved for future studies. Megafauna included bison, mammoths, and giant sloths. The points were found at kill sites.

10,900 BCE

Early Archaic

Archaic was the shift to hunting smaller game and focusing on gathering. Due to end of ice age, there was an extinction of the megafauna Pleistocene Extinction grinding implements like the mano/metate and pestle/mortar were increasingly present.

10,800 BCE

Anzick Clovis Site

DNA testing of a small boy connects him to South American groups and originated from Asian group, supporting the Pacific Coastal Theory.

(Anzick)

9200 BCE

Kennewick Man lives

This man's remains genetically linked to modern-day Colville tribal members. Scientist who studied the remains suggest he might have been a seal hunter, spent a lot of time in the water and lived with broken ribs. Tribe members want to bury his remains. Indigenous groups and scientist have clashed at times due to differing beliefs.