Scientists Say One of the Oldest Archaeological Sites in the Americas May Not Be as Old as We Thought

The Daily Galaxy • March 31, 2026 • science

Key Points:

New research led by Todd Surovell re-dates the Monte Verde archaeological site in Chile to between 4,200 and 8,200 years ago, significantly younger than the previously accepted age of about 14,500 years.
This revised timeline challenges the long-held view that Monte Verde predates the Clovis culture and supports early human presence in South America before North America.
The study highlights geological evidence, such as the site's position above the Lepué Tephra volcanic layer dated to around 11,000 years ago, indicating that earlier dating did not adequately account for sediment mixing and erosion.
Organic materials originally used for dating were likely older remnants re-deposited into younger sediment layers during the Early Holocene, causing the site to appear older than it truly is.
Researchers caution against using Monte Verde as a fixed benchmark for models of early human migration into the Americas and emphasize the need for independent verification of early archaeological sites.

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