Ancient Footprints in White Sands Reveal 20,000-Year-Old Human Presence

Researchers have dated ancient human footprints found in White Sands National Park, New Mexico, to at least 20,000 years ago, challenging the previous belief that humans arrived in the Americas around 14,000 years ago. Some scientists were skeptical of the footprints' age and the dating methods used. However, new evidence, including radiocarbon dating of pollen grains and optically stimulated luminescence dating of sediment, supports the original date of the footprints. The data strongly indicate human presence in the Americas around 20,000 years ago, but some experts still require further evidence to accept the footprints' age.