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Whither New World First Nations?

Proposed as one of various possible migration routes for people traveling to

the North Americas, the ice-free corridor served as an unglaciated gateway from

Asia to Alaska (Arnold, 2002). The event of migration would have been possible via

land bridge from as early as 25,000 to 15,000 years ago (Land Bridge Theory, n.d.).The land bridge theory has long been accepted in the classroom for populating the

Americas and is supported by mitochondrial research, examination of paternal

chromosome distribution (Land Bridge Theory, para 11) and radiocarbon dating

(Arnold, 2002). It is for these reasons that I support the land bridge theory.

The existence of a land bridge, what is now referred to as Beringia provided

ideal survival conditions. Minimal precipitation kept ice sheet formation at bay and

remnants of that time discovered under volcanic ash revealed a diverse array of

plants and animals that inhabited Beringia (Land Bridge Theory, para 13). This

ecosystem provided the early Clovis migrants with a diverse palate and favourable

travelling conditions.

Scientific studies have supplied much support for the theory of populationsof the Americas via Land Bridge. Maternal mitochondrial research has provided

insight into the distribution and similarities between early inhabitants of the

Americas linking them to originating from East Asian ancestors (Land Bridge

Theory, para 10). Examination of paternal DNA mutation rates has provided a

general timeline of migration at 25,000 to as early as 15,000 years ago. (Land Bridge

Theory, para 11). Further supporting evidence for the Land Bridge Theory emerged

early on (Ember, Ember, Peregrine, p. 173) and is supported through the use of

radiocarbon dating on spear points discovered near Clovis, New Mexico, dating

more than 13,500 years ago (Land Bridge Theory, para 5).

Support for the Land Bridge theory through discovery of spear points and

radiocarbon dating, the examination of DNA and knowledge of the conditions of theproposed migration solidify my stance on this theory. I believe that future studies

may bring to light more specific dates to support this theory.

Arnold, T.J. (2002) Radiocarbon Dates from the Ice-Free Corridor. Radiocarbon. 44:2

(p. 437-454).

Ember, C.R., Ember, M., & Peregrine, P. (2009) Human Evolution and Culture:

Highlights of Anthropology (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:

Pearson Education, Inc.

Land Bridge Theory. (n.d.). Migration Theories. Retrieved May 24

from: http://ows.edb.utexas.edu/site/hight-kreitman/land-bridge-theory 

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