Stone Tools Suggest Humans Were in the Northwest 18,000 Years Ago

New research has uncovered evidence that reveals people were living in North America approximately 18,250 years ago. The discovery, made in central Oregon, includes stone tools as well as the teeth of a camel and bison that are no longer in existence.

While this finding is not the earliest suggested date for human habitation in the Americas, it appears to be significantly older than any other archaeological site in Oregon, reported Live Science.

Archaeologists made the discovery at the Rimrock Draw site. This site, which features a rock shelter, has been under excavation since 2011 through a collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management.

Initially, researchers unearthed stone tools from the Paleo-Indian period, spanning from 15,000 B.C. to 7,000 B.C. However, the geological composition of the site indicated the presence of sediment layers that potentially date back even further in time.

Stone tool with dried bison blood

The archaeologists’ expectations were exceeded when they stumbled upon a surprising find amidst the ancient bones and artifacts.

A stone tool bearing traces of dried bison blood emerged from beneath a layer of volcanic sediment that originated from the eruption of Mount St. Helens approximately 15,400 years ago.

Did you see the press release last week about the artifacts found at Rimrock Draw Rockshelter? Take a look at one of the agate scrapers (first picture) and some of the camel teeth fragments (second picture).
This find helps add detail to local Indigenous oral histories. pic.twitter.com/SQWfSS142s

— Museum of Natural and Cultural History (@UO_MNCH) July 13, 2023

This new revelation indicates that humans were engaged in butchering ice age game in the Pacific Northwest much earlier than previously believed.

To put it into perspective, the oldest evidence directly dating human presence in the United States comes from Paisley Caves in Oregon.

In that particular study, researchers examined coprolites, which are preserved fecal matter, and determined that they originated from humans and were roughly 14,200 years old.

Finding the solid dates

Due to the unexpectedly ancient geological layers, the researchers made a decision to directly analyze certain remains found at the site.

One such example was the tooth enamel of Camelops, a camel species that no longer exists. The aim was to obtain precise and reliable dates to support their findings.

Patrick O’Grady, an archaeologist from the University of Oregon’s Museum of Natural and Cultural History who spearheaded the research, explained that in 2018, they conducted the initial dating process on the Camelops tooth enamel.

The result came back with an exceptionally old date, which prompted O’Grady to recognize the need for additional confirming evidence.

Controversy on the actual dates

For more than a century, archaeologists have dedicated their efforts to understanding the timing and mechanisms of human migration to the Americas.

Initially, the prevailing belief among researchers was that humans first set foot on the continent around 13,000 years ago. This theory suggested that these early inhabitants passed the Bering Land Bridge during the last ice age.

However, recent advancements in both genetic and archaeological studies have challenged this timeline, pushing back the estimated arrival of humans further into the past.

Despite the growing body of evidence indicating earlier human presence in the Americas, these revised dates have not been without controversy.

Rimrock Draw certainly used by humans 18,250 years ago

O’Grady and his research team conducted further analyses by taking additional samples, including one from the camel tooth and another from a bison tooth.

These samples were subjected to carbon dating earlier this year. All the dates obtained from these samples concurred, providing strong evidence that Rimrock Draw was indeed utilized by humans approximately 18,250 years ago.

O’Grady said that now that they have received confirmation of the date and obtained additional support from a second sample, they feel confident in proceeding with the preparation of their peer-reviewed article, scheduled for publication this autumn.