Archaeologica.org

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/ ... 6a138.html

mounting evidence is slowly turning that story to fiction, said Michael Collins, an archaeologist with the Texas Archaeological Research Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin.

For more than 20 years, Collins and other scientists have been digging up artifacts from Chile to Texas that convince them the first Americans didn't walk here at all, but came by boat, and arrived much earlier than previously thought.

Whoops - this seminar was last Fri. Just got posted though.

Collins first became convinced of "pre-Clovis" ancestors in 1967, after discovering burned mammal bones with butcher marks at a site called Cueva Quebrada in Val Verde County. Carbon dating of charcoal put the bones at 14,000 years old. To this day, most other scientists have ignored those findings, Collins said.

Apparently Collin's has fell victim to the "ignore" tactic in the past. He'll have the last laugh, though. He's been very patient in making his case for preClovis at Wilson-Leonard and Gault. He hasn't even released a formal report on either...dotting his "i's" and crossing his "t's".

Thanks for the ref, Beag.

Nice article, Beags. Although the site I visit is near Calico, I have never really considered it to be older than 50,000bp. The minimum age will be re-dated from 18,000bp to 22-26,000bp sometime later this year by a geologist who is working the area.

But will the Geo be believed Cog? I hope he's what the press refer to as an 'eminent' or better still, 'world famous', expert, or his report will simply be buried with all the other interesting stuff that doesn't fit current doma.

But will the Geo be believed Cog? I hope he's what the press refer to as an 'eminent' or better still, 'world famous', expert, or his report will simply be buried with all the other interesting stuff that doesn't fit current doma.

Actually, Digit, yes. She is redating the catastrophic draining of the Lake Manix basin from 18,000bp to 22-26,000bp based on new geological evidence. In addition, the site will be discussed when 150 geologists from the Friends of the Pleistocene converge on Calico this October for an extended weekend with field trips to all sites in the basin. At least 150 geologists will have input on her results.

The tools that I am finding are above the ancient shoreline. There is little or nothing to be found below the shoreline level. In addition, I will be searching the most likely area for bones next month ... wish me luck!

I certainly do wish both of you luck. There is nothing quite so amusing as watching the dogma merchant squirm. In view of the suggestion that man made it into Asia so much earlier than he did into Europe an early entry date into the New World makes a lot more sense than 12000 yrs does.

There is nothing quite so amusing as watching the dogma merchant squirm.

Dogma merchant? Damn. That's even better than "the Club."

Yes, Dogma Merchants are pervasive.

In addition, the site will be discussed when 150 geologists from the Friends of the Pleistocene converge on Calico this October for an extended weekend with field trips to all sites in the basin. At least 150 geologists will have input on her results.

Man, I might have to save up to be there. That's sounds really interesting.
I love the name: "Friends of the Pleistocene".

Dogma merchant? Damn. That's even better than "the Club."

Not bad.

I will be searching the most likely area for bones next month ... wish me luck!

Here's hoping, my man!!

After 7 days of not being able to get down to the site, I was able to get down to it today...and boy did I find a bunch of big ol' axes, cleavers and hammerstones. I'll try to get some of them up today. The rains tore it up good.

I don't know, Charlie.....it's starting to seem as if you found the Wal Mart of neolithic tools there.

Maybe it was the South Texas College of Flint Knapping back then?

Man, I might have to save up to be there. That's sounds really interesting.
I love the name: "Friends of the Pleistocene".

Charlie, it should be a hoot. I was told that many of the geologists are young and they'll likely be partying at night into the wee hours. Of course, I will be deputized for crowd control ... you can too, if you show up. Nothing like a couple of foxes watching the henhouse!

you won't get in wearing those sandals