In 1973 workers cut into what would become an archaeological site of extraordinary interest. It was not just a single deposit - three deeply buried cultural layers were gradually defined, one on top of the other. The deepest lay 26 feet below the surface! The remains of bison suggested these were hunting camps or places where bison had been trapped and killed a very long time ago.
As excitement grew over the discovery, scientists from other institutions aided in the investigation. Radiocarbon dates showed that the cultural layers dated 6300, 7400, and 8500 years old. An interdisciplinary research team began to work out the complex questions of the climate, terrain, and plant, animal and human life in the region 8000 years before Columbus discovered America. The video traces the history of the project from field excavation through laboratory analysis and highlights the contributions of paleontologists, climatologists, geologists, and palynologists. The excavation sequences intrigue the viewer and lead to revealing discussions and interpretations of an important part of America's heritage.
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