Ep 26 - How long have people been in America? Its a lot longer than you think. w/ Sergio Ayala-Site Director

Find the Gault Site @ ⁠https://www.gaultschool.org

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Summary

The conversation explores the question of when people first arrived in the Americas and the challenges in archaeology to answer this question. The Gault site in Texas is discussed as a significant archaeological site with evidence of human occupation dating back 16,000 to 20,000 years. The conversation also touches on the importance of multidisciplinary research and the need for robust data and context to establish patterns and answer questions. The site's location and ecological qualities are highlighted as factors that attracted ancient hunter-gatherer groups. The conversation also addresses the relationship between archaeology and Native American tribes, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, respect, and inclusivity. The Galt site, located in Texas, is an extraordinary archaeological site that has yielded a wealth of artifacts. The site contains incised stones or engraved stones, which are flat pieces of limestone or chert with emblematic designs carved on them. These designs often consist of double parallel lines and cross-hatched lines. The site also contains a large number of stone tools, such as points and knives, indicating intense manufacturing activity. The Galt site is a significant place where different groups would meet, learn, and engage in various activities. The site holds potential for further archaeological investigations, and there is a need to responsibly curate and analyze the millions of artifacts already excavated. The conversation explores the abundance of archaeological sites in Texas, particularly the Gault site, and the importance of understanding the context and history of these sites. The discussion touches on topics such as the mobility of ancient people, the ingenuity of our ancestors, the shifting paradigms in academia, the impact of flooding events on archaeological sites, and the need for volunteers and public engagement in archaeological research.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Potential Future Projects
08:37 The Attraction of the Gault Site: Location and Ecological Qualities
29:11 Archaeology and Native American Tribes: Collaboration and Respect
45:40 A Meeting Place for Ancient Groups
01:00:02 Intense Manufacturing Activity at the Galt Site
01:09:19 Surprising Discoveries and the Need for Openness
01:16:56 The Erosion of the Clovis First Model
01:25:16 The Potential for More Discoveries
01:34:30 The Importance of Volunteers and Public Engagement