Ambiguity and Debates on the Early Peopling of South America

Abstract

An evaluation of recent claims for early human settlement of South America is presented. Some of theproblems with these cases are reviewed, particularly the ways in which ambiguity weakens otherwisecompelling evidence of early human presence in the continent. The roles of generalized adaptations andcobble industries, the most common explanations of claims of early occupations, are examined, and somenew sites that present incomplete evidence but are deserving of further research are mentioned. Theincorporation of studies of formation processes in the future may prove helpful in evaluating most of thesecases as well as others that emerge in the future.