Last nail in Clovis-first American Indian origin coffin

DNA from a site in Oregon has both confirmed the people came from East Asia and did so more than14,000 year ago, 1,000 years or so before the date of remains at Clovis, N.M. The date on coprolites, or fossilized excrement, matches a date for Monte Verde, Chile.

“This is the first time we have been able to get dates that are undeniably human, and they are 1,000 years before Clovis,” said Dennis L. Jenkins, a University of Oregon archaeologist, referring to the Clovis culture, well known for its unique spear-points that have been studied previously.

There is no way Clovis-firsters can scientifically defend their thesis any more. Plus, the date from Monte Verde would certainly require a crossing of the Bering land bridge as long ago as 16,000 years ago.

Indirectly, this may also bolster the cause of “splitters” vs. “lumpers” in linguistics battles over American Indian language families.