Where did Native Americans come from?

Question

There are theories of how Native Americans came to the New World, but new archeological evidence contests the Land Bridge theory. Also, I find it hard to believe that a whole 50% of the world was uninhabitated by man.

Has anyone done any DNA research to test where Native Americans came from and if they have different haplotypes that would disprove/prove the Land Bridge theory.

Another thing, the language is completely different and the style of living is different from other Asian peoples. I think that appearance is not a good indicator of origin because Vikings and Afghanis can be blonde and are not necessarily from the same group.

Answer 1

Actually it was much less than 50% of the Earth ALL humans come from Africa it is only through migration that humans and (neadethal) were able to reach Europe and other areas. and if You think about it Lemurs are only in Madagascar and Kangroos in Australia. It all depends on the adaptations.

Answer 2

space butterfly is correct, so I will take the time to refute your assumptions, one by one. First; There is no new archaeological evidence to contest the " land bridge " theory. Nothing has been found that would indicate a significantly earlier occupation of the Americas. It sounds as if you are imbued with what some native Americans think is their history. Wrong; just myth. Secondly; The DNA research done by Bryan Sykes, among others, overwhelmingly supports the " land bridge " theory. Thirdly; language and living styles can very greatly, even in peoples who are closely, genetically, related. These are cultural artifacts; thus superficial and variable. Fourth; appearance was never that big of consideration, after genetic information became available; just not reliable and now only given much consideration by laymen.

Answer 3

DNA evidence proves rather conclusively that early American populations migrated from Asia. There IS new evidence to suggest alternatives to the land bridge theory, but not refute it. Populations likely migrated by boat concurrently with land bridge migrations and along similar paths. Some evidence suggests it may have been possible (although not likely) that migrations entered through the South-pacific. Many people now think that land bridge migrations traveled mostly east after clearing the glaciers and populated most of North America, while boat migrations followed first the land bridge across what is now the Bering Strait, then the coast south, settling along the western coast of the U.S., as well as Central and South America.

Answer 4

I just watched a documentary on the tracing of Mitochandrial DNA of certain tribes of Native Americans to peoples in Siberia (which would make sense if they really did come across on the Land bridge). It was interesting to me since I'm part Native American too, but don't have a clue what tribe (supposedly Cherokee & Souix, but who knows). It's an interesting subject to ponder though.

Answer 5

DNA evidence supports the land bridge theory, or rather, it supports at least two separate migrations from that region.

New archaeological evidence doesn't contest the land bridge theory. Some of it does, however, suggest that other methods of migration occured. All of the evidence supporting these theories is not new, either. The land bridge theory is simply supported by the majority of the evidence.

Answer 6

Well, there is actually no refuting the 'Land Bridge' theory - but apparently two different main groups at different times.
Plus the odd settlement by boat.
But I have to differ with the person who said 'Mongols'.
The Mongols were actually a Caucasian race. They burst onto the scene with Genghis Khan and went on to invade West, till stopped, and invade and conquer East. They then bred with Asians, losing most of their Caucasian features. By the time the Mongols looked what 19th Century race-typers called 'Mongolian', the Americas had been settled for millenia!

Answer 7

It is said that the ancestors of Native americans and other indians from south american (mayas, aztecas, pipiles, incas, arawak) were the Mongols. That's why these people have the "mongolian eye".. the Mongols crossed the bering strait which by the time, was closer to the american continent this, making easier the access.

Answer 8

im native and i dont even know..lol i have many theorys also,but i recently heard on aptn from an old woman that we come from north and south loonngg....... time ago for all we know we could just have been here this whole time.

Answer 9

I can't answer properly, but I know just the RIGHT person to answer this...I'll fwd him your question ;)

Answer 10

Don't you know, they came from their moms' tummies!