Out with the old and in with the new!

1. Out with the old and in with the new! Exploring the Old and New Migration Theories.

2. Learning Target • I can explain how the new migration theory replaced the old migration theory.

3. The Old Migration Theory • 200,000 – 100,000 yrs. ago Homo sapiens in Africa • 100,000 yrs. ago they migrated to Europe, the Middle East and Asia (the “Old World”) • 50,000 – 30,000 yrs. ago spread to most habitable “Old World” • Around 12,000 yrs. ago humans appeared in North and South America (“New World”)

4. The Old Migration Theory • From Asia to Alaska using a land bridge. That existed between 15,000 – 10,000 yrs. ago • Land bridge was created by lower sea levels during the last ice age

5. Criticism of Old Theory • Archaeologists have found artifact on the East coast and in South America that are 50,000 – 20,000 yrs. old • Biologists are using skull and DNA testing to prove that the first New World humans come from a range of Old World locations • Language specialists say it would have taken 50,000 – 30,000 yrs. to develop our current language diversity

6. The Kennewick Man • Found in 1996 in Kennewick, Washington • His skull and skeletal feature have more in common with people from Northern Japan than Central Asia • People came to the New World from different places, at different times, and in different ways

7. The New Migration Theory • 35, 000 – 20,000 yrs. ago first people arrived in North America • Some used the land bridge while others crossed in small boats • A diverse group of people came to the New World at different times • Multiple migration stories