Dr. Tom Dillehay

And the fact that a lot of these resources come from the Indian mountains to the east and down toward the coast and out in a broad radius probably suggests there were other peoples around, obviously, and they were exchanging products with them.

That's a very good point. And that is where we're moving toward today. There are other archaeologists beginning to examine and cut banks, peat lenses, and looking for other sites. There is one possible site north of Monte Verde, about 110 kilometers away, called Pilauco, that has... preserved animal bones embedded in a peat lens as well. So your point is well taken.

That's a very good point. And that is where we're moving toward today. There are other archaeologists beginning to examine and cut banks, peat lenses, and looking for other sites. There is one possible site north of Monte Verde, about 110 kilometers away, called Pilauco, that has... preserved animal bones embedded in a peat lens as well. So your point is well taken.

That's a very good point. And that is where we're moving toward today. There are other archaeologists beginning to examine and cut banks, peat lenses, and looking for other sites. There is one possible site north of Monte Verde, about 110 kilometers away, called Pilauco, that has... preserved animal bones embedded in a peat lens as well. So your point is well taken.

There are probably other sites similar to it. The problem is, is that in the Americas, unlike where you're at and in other parts of Europe, We're accustomed to what's called wet sites preserved by peat bogs, late sites, early sites, and so forth. Here in the Americas, there's only three known wet sites that have ever been excavated, two in North America and now Monte Verde.

There are probably other sites similar to it. The problem is, is that in the Americas, unlike where you're at and in other parts of Europe, We're accustomed to what's called wet sites preserved by peat bogs, late sites, early sites, and so forth. Here in the Americas, there's only three known wet sites that have ever been excavated, two in North America and now Monte Verde.

There are probably other sites similar to it. The problem is, is that in the Americas, unlike where you're at and in other parts of Europe, We're accustomed to what's called wet sites preserved by peat bogs, late sites, early sites, and so forth. Here in the Americas, there's only three known wet sites that have ever been excavated, two in North America and now Monte Verde.

So there's not a tradition of looking for these kinds of sites in the field, although the same kind of terrain is there, to search for them.

So there's not a tradition of looking for these kinds of sites in the field, although the same kind of terrain is there, to search for them.

So there's not a tradition of looking for these kinds of sites in the field, although the same kind of terrain is there, to search for them.

No, there have not been. First of all, if these people were there 10, 12 months, what's the likelihood of somebody dying and being buried there? So a lot of these sites are short-term occupation sites. But we did find three human footprints in the site. Somebody, probably a sub-adult, they're about 11 centimeters long, walked across a patch of clay in the site.

No, there have not been. First of all, if these people were there 10, 12 months, what's the likelihood of somebody dying and being buried there? So a lot of these sites are short-term occupation sites. But we did find three human footprints in the site. Somebody, probably a sub-adult, they're about 11 centimeters long, walked across a patch of clay in the site.

No, there have not been. First of all, if these people were there 10, 12 months, what's the likelihood of somebody dying and being buried there? So a lot of these sites are short-term occupation sites. But we did find three human footprints in the site. Somebody, probably a sub-adult, they're about 11 centimeters long, walked across a patch of clay in the site.

And with one of them, it's very clear. You can see the arc impression, the heel and the five toe prints, and the other two are there. So it's right foot, left foot, right foot across a patch of clay. But what you have brought up is a very interesting point.

And with one of them, it's very clear. You can see the arc impression, the heel and the five toe prints, and the other two are there. So it's right foot, left foot, right foot across a patch of clay. But what you have brought up is a very interesting point.

And with one of them, it's very clear. You can see the arc impression, the heel and the five toe prints, and the other two are there. So it's right foot, left foot, right foot across a patch of clay. But what you have brought up is a very interesting point.

In the Americas, there's probably no more than three legitimate, well-dated human skeleton remains, and not the complete skeleton either, in the entire Western Hemisphere that date before 10,000 years ago. So the problem is this. What's the mortuary pattern of these first Americans? Were they dumping them in bodies of water or things like swamps and bogs?

In the Americas, there's probably no more than three legitimate, well-dated human skeleton remains, and not the complete skeleton either, in the entire Western Hemisphere that date before 10,000 years ago. So the problem is this. What's the mortuary pattern of these first Americans? Were they dumping them in bodies of water or things like swamps and bogs?

In the Americas, there's probably no more than three legitimate, well-dated human skeleton remains, and not the complete skeleton either, in the entire Western Hemisphere that date before 10,000 years ago. So the problem is this. What's the mortuary pattern of these first Americans? Were they dumping them in bodies of water or things like swamps and bogs?

Were they cremating the remains and placing them somewhere else? Were they committing some form of cannibalism, then getting rid of the remains? We do not understand the mortuary patterns of the first Americans. And that creates a problem for the genetic studies. Because the genetic analyses are going to come from mainly those human skeletons.