American prehistory, in principle, focuses its discussions on the period when the first prehistoric men occupied our continent. This subject counts on different researches that indicate dates that vary between 20 and 35 thousand years ago. Even more recent scientific investigations work with a period of 50,000 years ago.
Some scientists work with the hypothesis that America, like the African and Asian continents, had its own or native populations. However, the autochtonism thesis does not have material statements, as human fossils prior to Homo sapiens sapiens have not yet been found. With this, the theoretical currents that defend that human groups would have migrated from other continents to America gain greater prominence.
The most prominent migration theory believes that the first human groups to reach the continent had close physical similarities to the Mongoloid and pre-Mongoloid populations of Asia. The arrival of these peoples to America happened thanks to the freezing of the Bering Strait, which separates the Asian continent from the northern portion of America. About 12,000 years ago, the freezing of the Straits and the drop in the water level of the Arctic Glacial Ocean allowed the migration of prehistoric Asian man to America.
The defenders of this migratory thesis are based on prehistoric remains found at the Clovis site, located in New Mexico (USA). However, this thesis is under serious questioning. One such suspicion about the Bering Strait Theory occurred when, in 1975, the fossil of a woman was found in the region of Lagoa Santa, located in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. Nicknamed “Luzia”, the ancient fossil has a dating equivalent to that of the first peoples to occupy North America. In addition, their features are Negroid like those of the populations of the African continent or the Australian aborigines.
Based on this revolutionary discovery, the scientific community works with a third hypothesis. According to these studies, the populations that first occupied the continent came from regions of South Asia, Polynesia and Oceania. Such human groups would have moved through navigations made in small vessels. Over time, they settled on the east coast of the American continent and, later, sought out areas in the interior of America.
Without reaching a final consensus, archaeological and paleontological research continues in America. Every day, new discoveries are expanding the debate about the people who make up our continent. Thus, many American prehistoric remains still await their encounter with contemporary man.
By Rainer Sousa
Graduated in History
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/historia-da-america/ocupacao-continente-americano.htm