Recent findings suggest that ancient footprints discovered in New Mexico date back to over 23,000 years ago, challenging previous understandings of prehistoric human migration. Initially, sediment layers containing aquatic plant remnants raised doubts about accuracy due to potential contamination. To confirm, researchers incorporated radiocarbon-dating of pollen from terrestrial plants found in the same layers, securing results that aligned with earlier conclusions, reinforcing the idea that humans occupied these regions before the continent experienced significant ice coverage that would isolate populations.
Bennett and his colleagues radiocarbon-dated seeds from sediment layers to establish that ancient footprints in New Mexico were made after 23,000 years ago.
The existence of 23,000-year-old footprints in New Mexico suggests human presence before significant ice cover isolated northern and southern continents.
Skepticism arose regarding the previous findings due to potential contamination from groundwater carbon in aquatic plant samples.
In 2023, the team validated their initial findings by dating pollen from the same sediment layers as the footprints, addressing contamination concerns.
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