Read all stories on this website about the Blue Ridge Archaeology Guild by clicking here.

Could the First Americans have been Russian or French? So far, there are three theories of how people first reached the Americas: you decide.

Dr. Ashley Smallwood, Director of the Antonio J. Waring, Jr. Archaeological Laboratory at the University of West Georgia, will connect all the dots and give us a look at the life and times of Southeastern Paleoindians.

For years the Clovis-first supporters were sure the only way here was across the Bering Straits to Alaska, and then south to Patagonia. Others suggest boaters traveled along the coasts from Russia or China all the way to Chile.

A third group now suggests that people on the French coast may have paddled along the Atlantic ice sheets to New England. This was the Ice Age, 15,000 to 20,000 years ago after all.

Dr. Smallwood’s examination of these theories is open to Students, Faculty and the Public at 7 pm on Thursday, April 4, in Young Hall Room 202, Dahlonega Campus. Her presentation is jointly sponsored by the University of North Georgia’s Dahlonega campus Department of History, Anthropology, and Philosophy and the Blue Ridge Archaeology Guild, a Chapter of the SGA.

The presentation is free and open to the public.

Where to find it

Click above to go to a larger Google interactive map of the area.

Posted online on Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

Join the conversation

If you have thoughts, opinions, or want to expand on what you've just read, this is the place to do it. Please stay civil and on the topic...but we'd like to hear what you have to say.

You must be logged in to post a comment.