Human footprints in Central Mexico older than 40,000 years

Paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic study on volcanic units of the Valsequillo Basin: implications for early human occupation in central Mexico

“…This has also been the case for the reports on the Valsequillo site in central Mexico (Steen-McIntyre et al, 1981;Pichardo, 1997;Fiedel, 2000;Ochoa-Castillo et al, 2003;Renne et al, 2005;Gonzalez et al, 2005). Alleged human and animal footprints were found within the upper bedding surface of the Xalnene volcanic ash layer that outcrops in the Valsequillo Basin, south of Puebla, Mexico (Gonzalez et al, 2005). The ash has been dated at about 40 ka by optically stimulated luminescence analysis (OSL), which has been taken as new evidence that America was colonized earlier.…”

“…Given the implications of these findings, reports on early human occupation sites with dates considerably older than those of the Clovis sites have met with skepticism and prompted intense scrutiny. This has also been the case for the reports on the Valsequillo site in central Mexico (Steen-McIntyre et al, 1981;Pichardo, 1997;Fiedel, 2000;Ochoa-Castillo et al, 2003;Renne et al, 2005;Gonzalez et al, 2005). Alleged human and animal footprints were found within the upper bedding surface of the Xalnene volcanic ash layer that outcrops in the Valsequillo Basin, south of Puebla, Mexico (Gonzalez et al, 2005).…”

“…

Alleged human and animal footprints were found within the upper bedding surfaces of the Xalnene volcanic ash layer that outcrops in the Valsequillo Basin, south of Puebla, Mexico (Gonzalez et al, 2005). The ash has been dated at 40 ka by optically stimulated luminescence analysis, thereby providing new evidence that America was colonized earlier than the Clovis culture (about 13.5 Ma).

…”

Characterization of Leishmania (Leishmania) waltoni n.sp. (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), the Parasite Responsible for Diffuse Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in the Dominican Republic

“…This probably occurred well before man appeared in the region, which was only some 40,000 years ago. 26 Sandflies have been recorded from Miocene (24Ma) in amber 27 from the Dominican Republic and the island arch, of which present day Hispaniola is part, has been in place since the middle Eocene (49Ma). 28 Fossil records indicate that the island had a rich mammalian fauna consisting of rodents, insectivores, monkeys, and sloths, 29 suggesting periodic links with the mainland.…”

Interactions among Overstory Structure, Seedling Life-history Traits, and Fire in Frequently Burned Neotropical Pine Forests

“…Archeological evidence indicates the Caribbean islands were first colonized by humans at least 6000 y ago (17) and possibly more than 40 000 y ago in Mexico, though pre-Clovis sites are controversial (18) another layer of complexity to gap dynamics in forests with frequent fire regimes (20). In these forests, gaps can alter both resource availability and fire behavior.…”