A new development in the origin of the Native Americans has been unearthed recently in Livingston, Montana. In 1968, the skeletal remains of a male baby was discovered by construction workers in the northeastern part of the area, and numerous artifacts were also found buried along with it. Covered in red ochre, the body was accompanied by more than 100 tools made of bone and stone that suggested that he belonged to the Clovis Culture.
After decades of research, scientists were able to decode the infant’s genome and determine that the Clovis people are direct ancestors of present-day Native Americans. A human’s genome contains a complete account of his/her genetic data, which is used in modern scientific practices to shed light on the identity of both living and dead people. The boy’s genome also showed that he died about 12,600 years ago in Montana and that Native Americans are actually descended from Asian migrants as opposed to the idea that they came from Europe.
The boy’s age was estimated to be anywhere between 12 to 18 months when he died. The tools that were found in his grave are made of typical materials used by the Clovis culture like bone, ivory, and elk antler. These artifacts were found to be much older than the boy’s remains, which suggests that the tools were special heirlooms that were passed down from generation to generation.
Ancient tools of the Clovis Culture
A comprehensive analysis of the boy’s remains yielded more proof that his physical attributes bear a better resemblance to Siberians than to other races. This data reinforces the initial theory that Native Americans settled in the continent from Europe. The Clovis people are believed to have arrived in the Americas from East Asia via an ice bridge that formed across the Bering Strait.
Participating researchers and scientists are eager to move forward in their investigation in order to gain more insight on the origins and cultural practices of the early Native Americans.
Watch video on the Clovis Culture
http://youtu.be/Nyfw-kmI-pE
Main image via YouTube. Image of artifacts via Wikimedia Commons