SCI/TECH: S. Carolina Archaeological Site May Rewrite Human History

Recent archaeological evidence uncovered by University of South Carolina scientists points to human habitation along the Savannah River in South Carolina 50,000 years ago. Previous estimates of early human life in North America date to approximately 25,000 years ago; the find, if found conclusive, will rewrite scientific theory of North American human habitation. Carbon dating on what is believed to be an ancient living site returned a date of 50,300 years, however further investigation is needed to prove the burnt vegetable matter and stone chips were the product of human hands.



The stone chips may be key in this find, as Albert Goodyear, the archaeologist heading the Topper dig, says they show signs of "scratching and polishing" indicitive of human handiwork.

The timeframe for early human habitation on the North American continent is a hotly debated topic in archaeological circles. For many years, the earliest evidence was with the Clovis people in New Mexico, dated approximately 18,000 years ago. More recent digs in places as varied as Oklahoma and Pennsylvania have been verified as slightly older than that. Some current theories place the date around 40-50,000 years, however conclusive scientific proof has only shown a figure half as long.

Despite extenstive knowledge of the origins of homo sapiens, scientists are still unsure when modern man arrived in North America and exactly how he got here. The Topper site may prove to be one more valuable clue in uncovering the ancient history of the North American continent.

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[edit on 18-11-2004 by Banshee]

Thanks for the news, I saw the dig on the news and the discovery is really amazing.

They will keep on digging so who is to say they make uncover more things.

And about changing history, well is to many groups out there that will never allowed facts to get to far away from religious believe and the bible.

Nice to see some true scientists doing there thing and making a big discovery. Im suprised that in South Carolina there arent some religious nuts making up some tall tale that sounds biblical. I cant forget about the story of so called discovery of human foot prints next to dinosar prints somewhere in the bible belt.

This must throw the creationists into a frenzy. 25,000 years does not fit into thier model of things It will be intersting to see the final data from the find.


[edit on 11/19/04 by FredT]

The idea that it takes thousands and thousands of years to form geological strata has been proven bogus. It actually can take a fraction of the time that the "all knowing scientists" claim. Sorry.....

...and the duel prints of dinosaur and man is in Texas. It is a REAL site where the prints a under quite a few feet of old strata. It is not a hoax, been there, seen it. Check it out

www.creationevidence.org...

Do you laugh at UFO's, too? Just wondering....

Originally posted by Hawker
The idea that it takes thousands and thousands of years to form geological strata has been proven bogus. It actually can take a fraction of the time that the "all knowing scientists" claim. Sorry.....

Wow your site has me convinced!!! Not! Sorry please provide me better proof than that eh? Creation Science if you can call it that is simply mythology crouched as a science. Plane and simple. By that reckoning maybe we should be teaching that the earth may be flat too. :shk:

That site is analogus to looking for smoking risks from the tobacco institute

[edit on 11/19/04 by FredT]

Originally posted by jrod
Nice to see some true scientists doing there thing and making a big discovery. Im suprised that in South Carolina there arent some religious nuts making up some tall tale that sounds biblical.

ROFL! Hey, it's not that bad down here