Footprints of 'first Americans'

Troubleshooter · 07-05-2005, 12:53 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4650307.stm

Human settlers made it to the Americas 30,000 years earlier than previously thought, according to new evidence.

A team of scientists came to this controversial conclusion by dating human footprints preserved by volcanic ash in an abandoned quarry in Mexico.

They say the first Americans may have arrived by sea, rather than by foot.

...snip...

The team used several methods to date a variety of material from the site near Puebla, Mexico, in order to be sure they were right about the age.

"We have materials that have been dated below the footprint layer, the footprint layer itself and on top of the footprint layer. Everything is making sense," said Dr Gonzalez.

The researchers used radiocarbon dating on shells and animal bones in the sequences and dated mammoth teeth by a technique called electron spin resonance. The sediments themselves were dated by optically stimulated luminescence.

...more...

lookout123 · 07-05-2005, 01:01 PM

*insert carbon dating and evolution arguments here*

Troubleshooter · 07-05-2005, 02:37 PM

That's why I like this part:

Quote:

...and dated mammoth teeth by a technique called electron spin resonance. The sediments themselves were dated by optically stimulated luminescence.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-05-2005, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Footprints of 'first Americans'

If it's true then they are the oldest FOUND. Doesn't prove them to be the first though.

Happy Monkey · 07-05-2005, 10:02 PM

They're members of the "First X Americans", for an unknown value of X.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-09-2005, 04:46 PM

Ah but they might be the last of "x" for all we know.
"x" might have been preceded too.

Griff · 07-09-2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troubleshooter

That's why I like this part:

You didn't get the memo! The debil has been planting "scientific" evidence.

Troubleshooter · 07-09-2005, 07:01 PM

Dammit! I knew I shouldn't have fired the secretary for going to those scientology meetings.

Lady Sidhe · 07-11-2005, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Ah but they might be the last of "x" for all we know.
"x" might have been preceded too.

Right. by the last "w" Americans.

kerosene · 07-12-2005, 11:49 AM

the first "x" americans didn't even know they were americans!

bluecuracao · 07-12-2005, 02:26 PM

So...38,000 years ago, inhabitants of what is now Puebla, Mexico were Americans, but today, folks living there are...Mexicans? I am so confused.

dar512 · 07-12-2005, 03:19 PM

They're still Americans. North America is a big continent. So's South America.

We've just appropriated the name for ourselves.

Urbane Guerrilla · 08-06-2005, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dar512

We've just appropriated the name for ourselves.

Which we pretty much have to: "United-Statesian" sounds far clumsier to the Anglophone ear than, say, the Spanish equivalent, which does manage to flow in a language that more rattles than flows, at least in most places outside of Mexico -- the other "United States" in North America. And Mexico came later to that name in any case, so somebody who alleges this is yet more Yanquí arrogance needs to go right back to escuela.

07-05-2005, 12:53 PM	#1
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Footprints of 'first Americans' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4650307.stm Human settlers made it to the Americas 30,000 years earlier than previously thought, according to new evidence. A team of scientists came to this controversial conclusion by dating human footprints preserved by volcanic ash in an abandoned quarry in Mexico. They say the first Americans may have arrived by sea, rather than by foot. ...snip... The team used several methods to date a variety of material from the site near Puebla, Mexico, in order to be sure they were right about the age. "We have materials that have been dated below the footprint layer, the footprint layer itself and on top of the footprint layer. Everything is making sense," said Dr Gonzalez. The researchers used radiocarbon dating on shells and animal bones in the sequences and dated mammoth teeth by a technique called electron spin resonance. The sediments themselves were dated by optically stimulated luminescence. ...more... __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

07-05-2005, 01:01 PM	#2
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	insert carbon dating and evolution arguments here __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

07-05-2005, 10:02 PM	#5
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	They're members of the "First X Americans", for an unknown value of X. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

07-09-2005, 04:46 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Ah but they might be the last of "x" for all we know. "x" might have been preceded too. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-09-2005, 07:01 PM	#8
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Dammit! I knew I shouldn't have fired the secretary for going to those scientology meetings. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

07-12-2005, 11:49 AM	#10
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	the first "x" americans didn't even know they were americans!

07-12-2005, 02:26 PM	#11
bluecuracao in a mood, not cupcake Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3,034	So...38,000 years ago, inhabitants of what is now Puebla, Mexico were Americans, but today, folks living there are...Mexicans? I am so confused.

07-12-2005, 03:19 PM	#12
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	They're still Americans. North America is a big continent. So's South America. We've just appropriated the name for ourselves. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

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