22,000-Year-Old Artifacts May Rewrite Human Arrival in North America
Recent discoveries on Parsons Island, Maryland, challenge long-standing theories about the first human settlement in North America. Darrin Lowery, an independent geologist, unearthed tools that could date back 22,000 years, suggesting humans may have arrived on the continent thousands of years earlier than previously thought.
Darrin Lowery’s journey began at the age of nine when he started searching for artifacts on Maryland’s islands around the Chesapeake Bay. Over four decades, his passion led to the discovery of nearly 300 tools on Parsons Island. If his dating is accurate, these artifacts would predate the widely accepted timeline of human migration to North America by several millennia.
Lowery’s findings challenge the mainstream belief that the first humans arrived in North America around 13,000 years ago. Despite skepticism from some experts, Lowery remains unfazed by criticism. He mentioned in one of his interviews that if he is mistaken, then one should prove him wrong in this matter.
For much of the 20th century, archaeologists believed the first humans reached the Americas around 13,000 years ago after the glaciers that once covered much of northern North America began to melt. This theory posited that these early settlers crossed the Bering land bridge from Asia into present-day Alaska and gradually moved southward as the ice receded.
Discoveries like the 14,500-year-old site in Monte Verde, Chile, have already pushed the timeline back, suggesting humans were in South America well before 13,000 years ago. This has led some researchers to propose alternative migration routes, such as following the Pacific Coast.
Lowery’s artifacts, dated to around 22,000 years ago, further challenge existing theories. Found during 93 visits to Parsons Island, the collection includes chipped-off rock flakes, a stone for hammering, and knives. While most of the artifacts fell from the embankment due to erosion, nine were still embedded in the bank, and three of these were radiocarbon-dated to approximately 22,000 years ago.
Dating stone tools is inherently difficult, as most methods require organic material. Lowery used radiocarbon dating on charcoal found near the artifacts, which an independent lab estimated to be between 20,563 and 22,656 years old. Despite Lowery’s confidence in his methods, the lack of peer-reviewed publications has led to skepticism among some experts.
Todd Braje, executive director of the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, acknowledges the importance of Lowery’s findings but emphasizes the need for peer review. Braje said that to make big claims of this sort requires great work, ample data, and ongoing scrutiny, all of which are essential components of the scientific process.
One of the most contentious aspects of Lowery’s theory is how humans could have migrated from Alaska to Maryland 22,000 years ago, given the vast glaciers covering much of Canada at the time. Lowery suggests that humans may have used a temporary corridor between ice sheets, similar to the route Beringian wolves used 26,000 years ago.
Lowery argues that humans’ intelligence and adaptability would have enabled them to traverse challenging icy landscapes. According to him this whole process is a challenge and humans are pretty smart.
If Lowery’s findings are validated, they could fundamentally alter our understanding of early human migration to the Americas. This would not only push back the timeline of human arrival but also prompt a reevaluation of the technologies and routes early humans used.
A Call for Further Research
While some experts remain cautious, there is a consensus that Lowery’s discoveries warrant further investigation. Braje emphasizes the importance of continuing the dialogue and scientific inquiry.
The discovery of 22,000-year-old artifacts on Parsons Island has the potential to rewrite the history of human migration in North America. While skepticism remains due to the lack of peer-reviewed validation, the findings open up new avenues for research and debate. If proven correct, Lowery’s discoveries could significantly alter our understanding of how and when the first humans arrived on the continent, highlighting the ingenuity and resilience of early human populations.
