Dan Flores

This became the key when, because of some human hubris that violated the arrangement, the animals retaliated by withdrawing from humans' presence. Pleading with bison, elk, deer to return and rebalance the world thus became a focus of some of the grand ceremonies native peoples developed in North America.

This became the key when, because of some human hubris that violated the arrangement, the animals retaliated by withdrawing from humans' presence. Pleading with bison, elk, deer to return and rebalance the world thus became a focus of some of the grand ceremonies native peoples developed in North America.

This became the key when, because of some human hubris that violated the arrangement, the animals retaliated by withdrawing from humans' presence. Pleading with bison, elk, deer to return and rebalance the world thus became a focus of some of the grand ceremonies native peoples developed in North America.

When old worlders arrived in America 500 years ago, Central and South America held more than 50 million people. But in what is now the United States and Canada, hunting and gathering culture still prevailed across vast stretches, and here the human population had not yet reached 5 million.

When old worlders arrived in America 500 years ago, Central and South America held more than 50 million people. But in what is now the United States and Canada, hunting and gathering culture still prevailed across vast stretches, and here the human population had not yet reached 5 million.

When old worlders arrived in America 500 years ago, Central and South America held more than 50 million people. But in what is now the United States and Canada, hunting and gathering culture still prevailed across vast stretches, and here the human population had not yet reached 5 million.

Even with human numbers seemingly so slight, 500 generations of humans had physically transformed North America. To the native peoples, the continent was occupied, settled, its birds and reptiles and mammals all intimately known and considered kin. Even with fewer than 5 million inhabitants, parts of America held large enough numbers of people that wild animals weren't always abundant.

Even with human numbers seemingly so slight, 500 generations of humans had physically transformed North America. To the native peoples, the continent was occupied, settled, its birds and reptiles and mammals all intimately known and considered kin. Even with fewer than 5 million inhabitants, parts of America held large enough numbers of people that wild animals weren't always abundant.

Even with human numbers seemingly so slight, 500 generations of humans had physically transformed North America. To the native peoples, the continent was occupied, settled, its birds and reptiles and mammals all intimately known and considered kin. Even with fewer than 5 million inhabitants, parts of America held large enough numbers of people that wild animals weren't always abundant.

But save one, all the species that had survived the Pleistocene Extinctions still existed. Beavers continued to engineer a watery landscape. Shorebirds and ducks filled the skies, and bears, wolves, and other predators still played their crucial roles in American ecologies.

But save one, all the species that had survived the Pleistocene Extinctions still existed. Beavers continued to engineer a watery landscape. Shorebirds and ducks filled the skies, and bears, wolves, and other predators still played their crucial roles in American ecologies.

But save one, all the species that had survived the Pleistocene Extinctions still existed. Beavers continued to engineer a watery landscape. Shorebirds and ducks filled the skies, and bears, wolves, and other predators still played their crucial roles in American ecologies.

Even with thousands of years of human harvest, bison and passenger pigeons were still among the most numerous species on Earth. But the change that was coming was on a scale no one could possibly fathom. Since the Ice Age ebbed and northern seas flooded Beringia, America's animals and humans had lived in near total isolation from the rest of Earth.

Even with thousands of years of human harvest, bison and passenger pigeons were still among the most numerous species on Earth. But the change that was coming was on a scale no one could possibly fathom. Since the Ice Age ebbed and northern seas flooded Beringia, America's animals and humans had lived in near total isolation from the rest of Earth.

Even with thousands of years of human harvest, bison and passenger pigeons were still among the most numerous species on Earth. But the change that was coming was on a scale no one could possibly fathom. Since the Ice Age ebbed and northern seas flooded Beringia, America's animals and humans had lived in near total isolation from the rest of Earth.

No one on either side of the Atlantic had any inkling the other existed, or that such biological isolation sat ready to deliver one of the most profound tragedies in history. When the planet's human population finally rejoined after parting thousands of generations earlier, the America of Clovis and Folsom and Chaco, of bison and passenger pigeons, confronted a staggering transformation.

No one on either side of the Atlantic had any inkling the other existed, or that such biological isolation sat ready to deliver one of the most profound tragedies in history. When the planet's human population finally rejoined after parting thousands of generations earlier, the America of Clovis and Folsom and Chaco, of bison and passenger pigeons, confronted a staggering transformation.

No one on either side of the Atlantic had any inkling the other existed, or that such biological isolation sat ready to deliver one of the most profound tragedies in history. When the planet's human population finally rejoined after parting thousands of generations earlier, the America of Clovis and Folsom and Chaco, of bison and passenger pigeons, confronted a staggering transformation.

Raven and Coyote would never be able to turn things back to the way they had been.

Raven and Coyote would never be able to turn things back to the way they had been.