Archaeological site in Chile upends theory of how humans populated the Americas … again

The Guardian World News
by John Bartlett in Santiago
March 19, 2026
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3 min read

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New findings from Monte Verde archaeological site in Chile push back the timeline of human settlement in the Americas earlier than previously accepted.

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A new study examining the Monte Verde archaeological site in Chile suggests human settlement of the Americas occurred earlier than previously understood, challenging the long-accepted Clovis-first theory. For decades, the Clovis culture—which crossed the Beringia land bridge from Asia between 13,400 and 12,800 years ago—was considered the primary route for initial human migration to the western hemisphere. Monte Verde, dated to approximately 14,500 years old, had already cast doubt on this model, and the new findings reinforce evidence of pre-Clovis human presence in South America. This discovery continues a pattern of archaeological evidence pushing back the timeline of human arrival in the Americas, suggesting multiple migration routes or earlier coastal movements may have preceded the Clovis expansion. The findings could reshape how scientists understand the peopling of the Americas and the adaptability of early human populations.

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