In 2021, researchers dated ancient human footprints in New Mexico to at least 20,000 years ago. New data bolsters the evidence for the original date, among the earliest for humans in the Americas. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn White Sands National Park, New Mexico, mingled among tracks of mammoths, ground sloths, and other ancient animals, researchers found human footprints. The footprints — and other recent evidence — push back the date of human arrival by thousands of years. They radiocarbon dated pollen grains from conifer plants in the area.

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Persons: —, Kathleen Springer, Sally Reynolds, Jeff Pigati, Bente Philippsen, Loren Davis Organizations: Service, Sands, US Geological Survey, Washington, National Parks Service, Geological Survey, Science, Springer, Oregon State University, NPR Locations: New Mexico, Americas, , New Mexico, White