Giant sloth bone pendants suggest humans were in Americas earlier than thought

Archaeologists in Brazil have discovered three pendants made from giant sloth bones, suggesting that humans inhabited the Americas much earlier than previously believed. These artifacts, found at the Santa Elina rock shelter, are estimated to be between 25,000 and 27,000 years old, making them the oldest known personal ornaments in the Americas. The pendants were likely crafted for personal adornment, as indicated by their polished surfaces and perforations. The bones belonged to the extinct giant sloth species Glossotherium phoenesis, which weighed around 600 kilograms. The discovery challenges the prevailing view that humans arrived in the Americas no earlier than 16,000 years ago. Previous findings, such as fossilized human footprints in New Mexico dating back 21,000 to 23,000 years, have also suggested earlier human presence in South America. The research team, led by paleontologist Thais Pansani, analyzed sediment and other materials from the same layer as the pendants to establish their age. The findings support the hypothesis of older human occupations in the Americas, indicating a need for further investigation into the interactions between early humans and extinct megafauna.

- Three pendants made from giant sloth bones were discovered in Brazil, dating back 25,000 to 27,000 years.

- The artifacts are the oldest known personal ornaments in the Americas.

- The discovery suggests humans inhabited the Americas earlier than the previously accepted timeline of 16,000 years.

- The findings align with other recent evidence of early human presence in South America.

- Further research is needed to explore the relationship between early humans and extinct species like the giant sloth.