Looking for artifacts of ancient human settlements archaeologists have discovered spearheads and other items that date back 12,000 years.
These discoveries, at three sites on Santa Rosa and San Miguel islands west of Santa Barbara show the existence of humans in North America, a coastal culture, which consisted of hunters and of a seafaring culture.
The 15-member team led by Jon Erlandson of the University of Oregon's Museum of Natural and Cultural History discovered chipped stone tools, used for fishing and hunting, along with an abundance of seashells and bones.
In the Science Daily piece, Erlandson said, "This is among the earliest evidence of seafaring and maritime adaptations in the Americas, and another extension of the diversity of Paleoindian economies. The points we are finding are extraordinary, the workmanship amazing. They are ultra thin, serrated and have incredible barbs on them. It's a very sophisticated chipped-stone technology."
Team member Todd Braje, of Humboldt State University, said, "We found very thin, expertly made projectile points and it blew us away that these delicate flint-knapped points are this old."
