2009 Annual Meeting Press Release
Early Human Populations in the New World: A Biased Perspective
A Presentation by James M. Adovasio, Ph.D.
On Saturday, January 24, 2009, at 2:00PM, the public is invited to a presentation by Dr. James M. Adovasio of the Mercyhurst
Archaeological Institute. In his presentation, "Early Human Populations in the New World: A Biased Perspective", Dr.
Adovasio will present his excavation findings of the Meadowcroft Rockshelter, the earliest well-dated archaeological site
providing evidence human's populated the Western Hemisphere at least 16,000 years ago. The talk is sponsored by the Friends
of the Office of State Archaeology (FOSA), and the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and Connecticut Archaeology
Center at UConn. It will take place at Smith Middle School, 216 Addison Road, Glastonbury, CT. A $12 donation is asked of
attendees, and admission is free for students and current FOSA and museum members. For additional information call
(860) 486-4460.
Since October 11, 1492, when Christopher Columbus landed on San Salvador and met its native inhabitants, there have
been many questions on the topic of early human populations in the Western Hemisphere. Who were these people? Where did
they come from? When did they arrive? These questions were unanswered until 1926, when archaeologists in Folsom, New
Mexico found a spear point in the remains of a mammoth that dated back at least 11,500 radiocarbon years ago. Based on the
discovery of this spear point, known as the Clovis point, researchers believed there must have been a human presence in
North America at the same time.
However, since the discovery of the Clovis spear point, more than 500 archaeological sites have claimed to be older
than the Clovis culture, though only a few are thought to be reliable. Some of these sites, such as the Meadowcroft
Rockshelter in Pennsylvania and Monte Verde in Chile, indicate humans have been in the Americas significantly longer than
the Clovis people and that these pre-Clovis human led radically different lives from the Clovis culture. The Meadowcroft
site, located 30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, PA, is the oldest site in the Western Hemisphere. Carbon-14 tests performed
at the Smithsonian Institution date samples from Meadowcroft back to at least 16,000 years ago - t he end of the last Ice
Age.
Dr. J.M. Adovasio is well known in the archaeological community for his ongoing research at the Meadowcroft site since
the 1970s, and his enduring debate with some members of the archaeological community about when early humans populated the
American continents. Dr. Adovasio specializes in prehistory, archaeological method and theory, prehistoric technology and
material analysis, geoarchaeology, and archaeology of North America, Mesoamerica, and the former Soviet Union. His books
include The First Americans: In Pursuit of Archaeology's Greatest Mystery with Jake Page (2003) and
Following the presentation, copies of his books will be available for purchase and for signing.
BAD WEATHER ARRANGEMENTS: If weather requires a cancellation, notice will be posted on WTIC (AM 1080) and on
Channel 3, by 10:00AM. RAIN/SNOW DATE: Sunday, January 25.
From I-91 South or North:
1. Take Exit 25 (Putnam Bridge-Glastonbury Route 3) and follow to Route 2 East/Norwich.
2. Take Exit 8 off Route 2 and at end of ramp turn left onto Hebron Avenue.
3. On Hebron Avenue, turn left at the 4th traffic light onto Eastern Blvd. and follow .8 miles to the end.
4. Smith Middle School will be directly in front of you -- park in the Visitor Parking Lot on the left.
From I-84 East or West:
1. Take Route 2 East off I-84.
2. Take Exit 8 off Route 2 and follow steps 2-4 in the directions above.
From Route 2 West:
1. Take Exit 8 off Route 2 and turn right at the end of the ramp.
2. At the light, take a right turn onto Hebron Avenue.
3. Go about .25 miles and turn left at the 2nd light onto Eastern Blvd. and follow steps 3-4 in the
directions above.