Clovis Age Western Stemmed Projectile Points and Human Coprolites at the Paisley Caves

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  • D. L. Jenkins
    University of Oregon, Eugene
  • L. G. Davis
    Oregon State University
  • T. W. Stafford
    University of Copenhagen
  • P. F. Campos
    University of Copenhagen
  • B. Hockett
    Bureau of Land Management, Nevada State Office
  • G. T. Jones
    Hamilton College, NY
  • L. S. Cummings
    PaleoResearch Institute, Colorado
  • C. Yost
    PaleoResearch Institute, Colorado
  • T. J. Connolly
    University of Oregon, Eugene
  • R. M. Yohe
    California State University, Bakersfield.
  • S. C. Gibbons
    California State University, Bakersfield.
  • M. Raghavan
    University of Copenhagen
  • M. Rasmussen
    University of Copenhagen
  • J. L. A. Paijmans
    University of York
  • M. Hofreiter
    University of York
  • B. M. Kemp
    Washington State University
  • J. L. Barta
    Washington State University
  • C. Monroe
    Washington State University
  • M. T. P. Gilbert
    University of Copenhagen
  • E. Willerslev
    University of Copenhagen
The Paisley Caves in Oregon record the oldest directly dated human remains (DNA) in the WesternHemisphere. More than 100 high-precision radiocarbon dates show that deposits containingartifacts and coprolites ranging in age from 12,450 to 2295 14 C years ago are well stratified.Western Stemmed projectile points were recovered in deposits dated to 11,070 to 11,340 14 C yearsago, a time contemporaneous with or preceding the Clovis technology. There is no evidence ofdiagnostic Clovis technology at the site. These two distinct technologies were parallel developments,not the product of a unilinear technological evolution. “Blind testing” analysis of coprolites by anindependent laboratory confirms the presence of human DNA in specimens of pre-Clovis age.The colonization of the Americas involved multiple technologically divergent, and possiblygenetically divergent, founding groups.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)223-228
Number of pages6
JournalScience
Volume337
Issue number6091
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Jul 2012
Externally publishedYes
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