National Park Service has added the Paisley Five Mile Point Caves to the United States’ listing of the nation’s most important archaeological and historic sites. Situated near the town of Paisley in south-central Oregon, archaeological excavations at the site has produced evidence of human occupation in Oregon beginning 14,300 years ago, nearly 1,000 years earlier than previously thought.
The occupation of Paisley Five Mile Point Caves predates the appearance of “Clovis” sites by more than 1,000 years. Clovis sites characterized by a distinctive projectile point have been documented throughout many regions of the U.S. and for many years been widely accepted as evidence for the first human settlement of the Americas.
Led by Dr. Dennis Jenkins of the University of Oregon, researchers conducted excavations and laboratory analyses to amass information challenging the “Clovis First” hypothesis. Along with stemmed projectile points, grinding stones, modified animal bone and woven plant fiber cordage, Jenkins’ team recovered coprolites (feces) containing human DNA involving testing by multiple independent laboratories. The discovery of 14,300-year-old human feces demonstrates the presence of an ancient human population in America’s far west at the end of the last Ice Age.
Archaeologists have worked since 1938 at the site, located on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
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