Theories Showing How People Crossed the Ocean to North America Research Paper

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Humans made it to the Americas

Since the first humans originated in Africa and somewhere in the Middle East, anthropologists and historians have been figuring out how the first humans made it to the Americas. Archaeologists agree that these first Americas relocated from Asia via Beringia and settled in North America. Based on new and emerging evidence, we can doubt this theory and suggest new possibilities. Many explanations exist about how the early man migrated to the New World. This paper looks at three predominant theories of how humans made it to the Americas. The oldest is the Bering Land Bridge Theory, recently the Coastal Theory, and the Pacific/Atlantic Theory

The Bering Land Bridge Theory

The theory of the Bering Land Bridge is the most widely held. Human beings hunted and gathered for food. As sources of food became scarce, people began looking for ways to hunt large animals. Larger animals migrated towards Bering Strait, moving into North America. The Bering Strait was not under the water as it was merely and exposed land. Water was soaked in the ice fields of the northern parts of North America. Humans followed the animals, crossed The Bering Strait. Hence, they entered North America. The melting of the ice fields prompted the people to spread southwards. Initially, they were simply following their sources of food. As time passed, it got complex, mostly because people settled in different locations.

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The concept is that in the ice age era, a frozen bridge of land was formed due to lower water levels. Early historians and archaeologists think that the first settlers of the Americas came across this called Beringia land bridge. Though this school of thought has dominated for years, others ideas exist, explaining what could have driven people who became Native Americans. Evidence of this school of thought includes pieces of hunting tools, pottery, and numerous other artifacts found in Bering Strait waters. In addition, it is believed that various North American groups could have similar DNA trends to natives if North Western Asia. The next theories revolve on boats.

Coastal Theory

Advocates of this theory argue that North America is linked to other parts of the world via a series of unexposed islands. Existing evidence indicates that early humans could have "island hopped," penetrating into North America to find their way into South America. Evidence supporting this theory includes a common pattern in floating vessels like boats and canoes. In addition, there is geologic evidence in the waters of the British Columbia coast. The coastline of western Canada is enough evidence of this school of thought based on its numerous islands. Additionally, archaeologists discovered 13,000-year-old woman's bones on Santa Rosa Island. Scientists attribute this evidence to only one possibility. The woman's bones were on the island with no other remains….....

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"Theories Showing How People Crossed The Ocean To North America" (2015, February 14) Retrieved June 7, 2026, from
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"Theories Showing How People Crossed The Ocean To North America", 14 February 2015, Accessed.7 June. 2026,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/theories-showing-people-crossed-ocean-north-2148888
   

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