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| }}</ref> In the summer of 2007, they identified the oldest human ] yet discovered in the American continents. This assertion is based on analysis of several samples of ] found in the Paisley Caves complex.<ref>], ], et al. , Science Express. 2008-04-03.</ref><ref></ref><ref>Fox, Maggie. {{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Scientific American, April 3, 2008.</ref> | }}</ref> In the summer of 2007, they identified the oldest human ] yet discovered in the American continents. This assertion is based on analysis of several samples of ] found in the Paisley Caves complex.<ref>], ], et al. , Science Express. 2008-04-03.</ref><ref></ref><ref>Fox, Maggie. {{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Scientific American, April 3, 2008.</ref> | ||
| Since then, other authors have questioned the authenticity and relevance of the evidence gathered from ancient DNA and ],<ref>Hendrik N. Poinar, Stuart Fiedel et al. {{Dead link|date= |
Since then, other authors have questioned the authenticity and relevance of the evidence gathered from ancient DNA and ],<ref>Hendrik N. Poinar, Stuart Fiedel et al. {{Dead link|date=January 2022}}, ''Science'' 10 July 2009, Vol. 325. no. 5937, p. 148, 10.1126/science.1168182</ref> and from the morphological assignment of the coprolites to humans.<ref>Paul Goldberg, F. Berna and R.I. Macphail {{Dead link|date=January 2022}}, ''Science'' 10 July 2009, Vol. 325. no. 5937, p. 148, {{doi|10.1126/science.1167531}}</ref> | ||
| The coprolites were found in Paisley Five Mile Point Cave at the same level as a small rock-lined hearth some {{convert|7|ft|m|0}} below the modern surface. Also discovered at that level was a large number of bones from waterfowl, fish, and ], including extinct ]<nowiki/>s, horses, and bison. ] adjusted to calendar years dates these coprolites to 14,400 years ago, probably representing a pre-Clovis occupation. DNA analysis provides apparent genetic ties to Siberia or Asia.<ref> Newswise, Retrieved on July 7, 2008.</ref> | The coprolites were found in Paisley Five Mile Point Cave at the same level as a small rock-lined hearth some {{convert|7|ft|m|0}} below the modern surface. Also discovered at that level was a large number of bones from waterfowl, fish, and ], including extinct ]<nowiki/>s, horses, and bison. ] adjusted to calendar years dates these coprolites to 14,400 years ago, probably representing a pre-Clovis occupation. DNA analysis provides apparent genetic ties to Siberia or Asia.<ref> Newswise, Retrieved on July 7, 2008.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 00:57, 27 January 2022
United States historic place| Paisley Five Mile Point Caves | |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
 Bill Cannon, Bureau of Land Management archaeologist, near Cave No. 5 | |
| Location | Address restricted |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Paisley, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 42°45′41″N 120°33′05″W / 42.7613°N 120.5514°W / 42.7613; -120.5514 |
| Built | ca. 14,300 BP |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000708 |
| Added to NRHP | September 24, 2014 |
The Paisley Caves complex is a system of four caves in an arid, desolate region of south-central Oregon, United States north of the present-day city of Paisley, Oregon. The caves are located in the Summer Lake basin at 4,520 feet (1,380 m) elevation and face to the west in a ridge of Miocene and Pliocene era basalts mixed with soft volcanic tuffs and breccias, from which the caves were carved by Pleistocene-era waves from Summer Lake. One of the caves may contain archaeological evidence of the oldest definitively-dated human presence in North America. The site was first studied by Luther Cressman in the 1930s.
Scientific excavations and analysis since 2002 have uncovered substantial new discoveries, including materials with the oldest DNA evidence of human habitation in North America. The DNA, radiocarbon dated to 14,300 BP or roughly 14,400 calendar years ago, was found in subfossil human coprolites uncovered in the Paisley Five Mile Point Caves in south-central Oregon. The caves were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
Recent finds
A field school from the University of Oregon has been examining the site since 2002 and analyzing its pre-Clovis artifacts. In the summer of 2007, they identified the oldest human DNA yet discovered in the American continents. This assertion is based on analysis of several samples of coprolite found in the Paisley Caves complex. Since then, other authors have questioned the authenticity and relevance of the evidence gathered from ancient DNA and stratigraphy, and from the morphological assignment of the coprolites to humans.
The coprolites were found in Paisley Five Mile Point Cave at the same level as a small rock-lined hearth some 7 feet (2 m) below the modern surface. Also discovered at that level was a large number of bones from waterfowl, fish, and large mammals, including extinct camels, horses, and bison. Radiocarbon dating adjusted to calendar years dates these coprolites to 14,400 years ago, probably representing a pre-Clovis occupation. DNA analysis provides apparent genetic ties to Siberia or Asia.
Evidence at other archaeological sites — as well as previous work at Paisley Caves in the 1930s—had been thought to provide such evidence, but questionable excavation techniques clouded the issue. Knowing this, the University of Oregon team worked carefully to avoid the mistakes of the past. The theory that pre-Clovis immigrants traveled to North America down the Pacific Coast suggests that the travelers would have passed through the hinterlands of what is Oregon today. DNA from coyote, fox, and dog (or wolf) was found as well.
Special projectile points used for hunting known as 'Western Stemmed points' were later recovered from the caves. These are quite different from the Clovis points, and no evidence diagnostic of Clovis technology has been found at the site.
In 2002, a team of researchers from Oregon State University found stone tools and charcoal on the southern Oregon coast (Indian Sands in the Boardman State park), dating from 10,000 years ago—more than 2,000 years older than previously known archaeological sites on Oregon's coast. Carbon dating of artifacts (similar to ones found on the Alaskan and British Columbia coasts) suggested an origin of approximately 12,000 calendar years ago.
See also
- Lake Abert
- Arlington Springs Man - (Human remains)
- Buhl Woman - (Human remains)
- Calico Early Man Site - (Archeological site)
- Cueva de las Manos - (Cave paintings)
- Fort Rock Cave - (Archeological site)
- Kennewick Man - (Human remains)
- Kwäday Dän Ts'ìnchi - (Human remains)
- Marmes Rockshelter - (Archeological site)
- Monte Verde - (Coprolites and stone tools)
- Pendejo Cave - (Human remains)
- Picture Rock Pass Petroglyphs - (Prehistoric rock art)
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Lake County, Oregon
References
- Federal and state laws and practices restrict general public access to information regarding the specific location of this resource. In some cases, this is to protect archaeological sites from vandalism, while in other cases it is restricted at the request of the owner. See: Knoerl, John; Miller, Diane; Shrimpton, Rebecca H. (1990), Guidelines for Restricting Information about Historic and Prehistoric Resources, National Register Bulletin, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, OCLC 20706997.
- Staff (October 3, 2014). "Cave containing earliest human DNA dubbed historic". Phys.org. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- National Park Service (October 3, 2014). "Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 9/22/14 through 9/26/14" (PDF). Retrieved November 9, 2014.
- ^ David Wolman (April 3, 2008). "Fossil Feces Is Earliest Evidence of N. America Humans". National Geographic News. Retrieved 2008-04-25.
- Gilbert, M. Thomas P., Dennis L. Jenkins, et al. DNA from Pre-Clovis Human Coprolites in Oregon, North America, Science Express. 2008-04-03.
- Preclovis
- Fox, Maggie. Ancient feces indicates earlier American origins, Scientific American, April 3, 2008.
- Hendrik N. Poinar, Stuart Fiedel et al. Comment on "DNA from Pre-Clovis Human Coprolites in Oregon, North America", Science 10 July 2009, Vol. 325. no. 5937, p. 148, 10.1126/science.1168182
- Paul Goldberg, F. Berna and R.I. Macphail Comment on "DNA from Pre-Clovis Human Coprolites in Oregon, North America", Science 10 July 2009, Vol. 325. no. 5937, p. 148, doi:10.1126/science.1167531
- "Researchers, Led by Archaeologist, Find Pre-Clovis Human DNA" Newswise, Retrieved on July 7, 2008.
- M. Thomas P. Gilbert; Dennis L. Jenkins; Anders Götherstrom; Nuria Naveran; Juan J. Sanchez; Michael Hofreiter; Philip Francis Thomsen; Jonas Binladen; Thomas F. G. Higham; Robert M. Yohe II; Robert Parr; Linda Scott Cummings; Eske Willerslev (3 April 2008). "DNA from Pre-Clovis Human Coprolites in Oregon, North America" (PDF). Science. American Association for the Advancement of Science. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Jenkins / Willerslev et al. "Clovis Age Western Stemmed Projectile Points and Human Coprolites at the Paisley Caves", Science, 13 July 2012. Retrieved: 13 July 2012.
- Wilford, John Noble. "Spearheads and DNA Point to a Second Founding Society in North America" New York Times, 12 July 2012. Retrieved: 13 July 2012.
- Thomas H. Maugh II. "Who lived here first? New info on North America's earliest residents", Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2012. Retrieved: 13 July 2012.
- "Ancient site of human activity found on Oregon coast". Oregon State University. 6 November 2002.
- Loren G. Davis (2008), "New Support for a Late-Pleistocene Coastal Occupation at the Indian Sands Site, Oregon" (PDF), Archaeology: North America, vol. 25, pp. 74–76
- Paisley Caves description from University of Oregon
- Wilford, John Noble (April 8, 2008). "Evidence Supports Earlier Date for People in North America". The New York Times.
External
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places in Oregon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lists by county |   | |
| Portland lists | ||
| Other lists | ||