The earliest evidence of humans was found in New Mexico, White Sands National Park’s lake, diminishing the belief that humans were first found in the Americas.

     New research confirms that fossil evidence in human footprints has been spotted and is likely the oldest direct evidence of human presence in the Americas.

     According to research published on Thursday, October 5th, footprints were discovered at the edge of an ancient lake that dates back between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago. By analyzing the carbon in the fossil and the previously oldest sign of human activity, scientists concluded that these footprints are the oldest ones found to date.

     “This is a subject that’s always been controversial, because it’s so significant – it’s about how we understand the last chapter of the peopling in the world.” said Thomas Urban, an archaeological scientist at Cornell University.

     Any newer footprints of any kind can provide researchers with new information about the creatures in the past. Animal footprints have also been discovered at the White Sands Lake. In ancient environments, fossils are still being discovered, but most creatures never made it into the fossil record. 

     Most fossils were either decayed, consumed, or otherwise broken down by the environment. Most of all creatures that die never have their fossils discovered until thousands of years later. Some don’t stand a chance to become one, but archeologists are still finding fossils to this day.