Paleoindians

Paleoindians were the first human inhabitants of the Americas. Evidence suggests they arrived from Asia, likely crossing a land bridge that once connected Siberia and Alaska, known as Beringia. This migration is thought to have occurred during the Late Pleistocene epoch, possibly as early as 20,000 years ago, although precise dating is a subject of ongoing research.

These early inhabitants were hunter-gatherers, relying on hunting large game animals such as mammoths and mastodons, as well as gathering wild plants for sustenance. Their material culture is characterized by distinctive projectile points, most famously the fluted Clovis points, which were used for hunting and other tasks. Other tools included scrapers, knives, and drills, often made from stone like chert and obsidian.

The geographic range of Paleoindian sites extends across North and South America, indicating a rapid dispersal throughout the continents. Key sites like Clovis, New Mexico, Monte Verde in Chile, and Paisley Caves in Oregon have provided crucial insights into their lifestyle, diet, and technological capabilities. The end of the Paleoindian period is generally marked by changes in technology and subsistence strategies, possibly influenced by climate change and the extinction of megafauna. The exact nature of their social structures and the specifics of their migration routes remain areas of active archaeological investigation.