Oldest Footprints Found Fossilized in New Mexico were 23,000 Years Old, Says 75,000 Pollen Grains in Study

The analysis of about 75,000 pollen grains by scientists revealed that the oldest footprints found fossilized in New Mexico were actually 21,000 to 23,000 years old, demonstrating that humanity was in North America much earlier than defined in a previous study.

Oldest Footprints in New Mexico Possibly 23,000 Years Old

In 2021, a groundbreaking study unearthed ancient footprints at White Sands National Park, New Mexico, sparking debates about their accuracy. According to previous theories, people first appeared in North America between 13,500 and 16,000 years ago. An extensive follow-up investigation was carried out by a group of scientists, including co-author Jeff Pigati, a research geologist with the USGS, to validate these results.

The reliability of dating techniques was initially questioned by the archaeological community, particularly the claim that humans flourished in North America during the Last Glacial Maximum. However, the researchers' meticulous approach yielded valuable results. They employed two novel techniques to determine the age of the fossilized footprints, some of which resembled distinctly human feet with five toes.

The scientists began by analyzing seeds from the Ruppia cirrhosa plant discovered alongside the fossils. Radiocarbon dating was used, but a potential source of error was the plant's aquatic nature, which could retain carbon from water rather than air. Despite these challenges, their focused methodology ultimately proved successful.

Using 75,000 Pollen Grains Instead

In the new study, radiocarbon dating was applied to conifer pollen found in the same layers as the seeds, offering another line of evidence. Kathleen Springer, a co-author and USGS research geologist, emphasized the importance of testing results using multiple methods. The USGS team remained confident in their original ages due to strong geological, hydrological, and stratigraphic evidence, but they recognized the need for independent chronological validation.

Isolating a substantial 75,000 pollen grains from the same layer, they determined that the pollen's age was statistically identical to that of the Ruppia cirrhosa seeds. Additionally, the researchers used optically stimulated luminescence to date quartz grains in the footprints, revealing a minimum age of approximately 21,500 years.

With three corroborating pieces of evidence, the USGS contends that the age range of 21,000 to 23,000 years is highly unlikely to be incorrect.

Fossilized Footprints at White Sands National Park, New Mexico

Footprints at White Sands have a rich history. Initially discovered in a lakebed in 2006, scientists later unearthed both human and sloth footprints.

In 2018, they found direwolf prints, dating them to 18,000 years by examining nearby ancient seeds. Notably, they also discovered footprints of a female and a toddler in 2018.

These footprints from 2018 provide a captivating narrative that resonates with modern life. They depict a female's journey, spanning nearly a mile, with intermittent toddler footprints beside hers. Evidence suggests she carried the child, shifting them from side to side and occasionally setting them down as they walked. The footprints widened and sank into the mud due to the added weight she bore.

In the 2021 study, the majority of footprints were attributed to teenagers and children, suggesting a division of labor with teenagers performing "fetching and carrying tasks," often accompanied by children.