The first traces of Palaeolithic man have been found 550 miles above the Arctic Circle on the mysterious ancient land bridge of Beringia that used to link Russia and America

  • These are the first pictures of the new archaeological site on the remote Siberian island of Stolbovoy
  • Our prehistoric ancestors ventured here at a time when the lost continental link – Beringia – was still in place
  • New implements are believed to be up to 300,000 years old but further research needs to be conducted

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The first traces of Palaeolithic man have been found on the ancient land bridge – now mostly sunken – which once joined Russia and America, say scientists.

These are the first pictures of the new archaeological site on the remote Siberian island of Stolbovoy which is 550 miles (885km) above the Arctic Circle.

Our prehistoric ancestors ventured here at a time when the lost continental link – called Beringia – was still in place and the incredible find represents the first tangible confirmation of human presence on the territory. 

The new implements are currently believed to be up to 300,000 years old but further research needs to be conducted, experts say. 

Situated in the icy Laptev Sea, the island is reported to be the most northerly evidence of ancient man anywhere in the world. 

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The first traces of Palaeolithic man have been found on the ancient land bridge ¿ now mostly sunken ¿ which once joined Russia and America, say scientists. Pictured is Stolbovoy island 

The first traces of Palaeolithic man have been found on the ancient land bridge – now mostly sunken – which once joined Russia and America, say scientists. Pictured is Stolbovoy island 

Stone implements found on Stolbovoy island are from the Palaeolithic era, according to archaeologist Tomas Simokaitis from the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Detailed tests will be carried out on the finds and Russian archaeologists plan an urgent excavation to investigate further.

Scientists now believe that America was originally populated from Siberia by ancient people crossing via Beringia some 15,000 to 23,000 years ago. 

'We suppose the site is Palaeolithic,' said Dr Simokaitis.

'We suppose these implements we have found are hundreds of thousands years old, but so far we have no iron proof.'

Tests and an imminent dig at the site – called Palaeolena – will reveal more details, he said.  

These are the first pictures of the new archaeological site on the remote Siberian island of Stolbovoy which is 550 miles (885km) above the Arctic Circle

These are the first pictures of the new archaeological site on the remote Siberian island of Stolbovoy which is 550 miles (885km) above the Arctic Circle

Our prehistoric ancestors ventured here at a time when the lost continental link ¿ called Beringia ¿ was still in place. The new implements are currently believed to be up to 300,000 years old but further research needs to be conducted, experts say

Our prehistoric ancestors ventured here at a time when the lost continental link – called Beringia – was still in place. The new implements are currently believed to be up to 300,000 years old but further research needs to be conducted, experts say

Situated in the icy Laptev Sea, the island is reported to be the most northerly evidence of ancient man anywhere in the world

Situated in the icy Laptev Sea, the island is reported to be the most northerly evidence of ancient man anywhere in the world

WHEN DID HUMANS ARRIVE IN NORTH AMERICA?

It is widely accepted that the earliest settlers crossed from what is now Russia into Alaska via an ancient land bridge spanning the Bering Strait which was submerged at the end of the last Ice Age.

Issues such as whether there was one founding group or several, when they arrived, and what happened next have been the subject of extensive debate.

The earliest evidence of human settlers on the continent dates to around 14,000 years ago, with the remains of an ancient village found 'older than Egyptian pyramids' found in April 2017.

A recent study using ancient DNA (six) suggests humans arrived to North America 25,000 years ago (two) before splitting into three Native American groups (three and four). The DNA came from a girl who belonged to a group called the 'Ancient Beringians'

A recent study using ancient DNA (six) suggests humans arrived to North America 25,000 years ago (two) before splitting into three Native American groups (three and four). The DNA came from a girl who belonged to a group called the 'Ancient Beringians'

Artefacts uncovered at the settlement, found on Triquet Island 310 miles (500km) northwest of Victoria, Canada, include tools for creating fires and fishing hooks and spears dating from the Ice Age.

Other research has suggested that humans reached North America between 24,000 and 40,000 years ago.

A 24,000-year-old horse jaw bone found in January 2017 in a cave in Alaska had the marks of stone tools, suggesting it was hunted by humans.   

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Initial findings indicate this is 'a world scale discovery in that this site gives the first tangible confirmation of human presence on the territory of legendary Beringia'. 

In ancient times the island was attached to the Siberian mainland and America. 

It was a remnant of the 'land bridge' – now mostly sunken – linking the two continents, according to the Siberian Times.

Dr Simokaitis said: 'We will try to dig into the permafrost, and open the surface.

'For now we have just collected material from the surface.'

It is widely accepted that the earliest settlers crossed from what is now Russia into Alaska via an ancient land bridge spanning the Bering Strait which was submerged at the end of the last Ice Age. Pictured is Stolbovoy island

It is widely accepted that the earliest settlers crossed from what is now Russia into Alaska via an ancient land bridge spanning the Bering Strait which was submerged at the end of the last Ice Age. Pictured is Stolbovoy island

Initial findings indicate this is 'a world scale discovery in that this site gives the first tangible confirmation of human presence on the territory of legendary Beringia'

Initial findings indicate this is 'a world scale discovery in that this site gives the first tangible confirmation of human presence on the territory of legendary Beringia'

In ancient times the island was attached to the Siberian mainland and America. It was a remnant of the 'land bridge' ¿ now mostly sunken ¿ linking the two continents

In ancient times the island was attached to the Siberian mainland and America. It was a remnant of the 'land bridge' – now mostly sunken – linking the two continents

Dr Simokaitis said: 'We will try to dig into the permafrost, and open the surface... For now we have just collected material from the surface'

Dr Simokaitis said: 'We will try to dig into the permafrost, and open the surface... For now we have just collected material from the surface'

WHAT IS THE BERINGIAN STANDSTILL?

Pictured is the history of migration from western Asia into the Americas via a vast Bering land bridge

Pictured is the history of migration from western Asia into the Americas via a vast Bering land bridge

Native Americans descended from people who migrated to the Americas from eastern Asia.

These ancestors first settled in an area called 'Beringia' - a vast Bering land bridge that once linked Siberia and Alaska. 

They spent up to 10,000 years in Beringia before moving rapidly into the Americas beginning at least 15,000 years ago.

This so-called Beringian standstill coincided with the height of the last Ice Age between 18,000 and 28,000 years ago.

Giant ice sheets to the east and hundreds of miles of uninhabitable tundra to the southwest prevented migration into North America.

This 10,000-year migratory 'pause' left small populations of 'Beringians' ripe for natural selection to help them survive the brutal conditions.

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The expedition was organised by the Academy of Sciences in Yakutia and the Russian Geographical Society.

The land bridge sank beneath the waves beginning some 15,000 years ago, but Stolbovoy – with its high cliffs – remains above the surface.

The previous most northerly known outpost of ancient man was 230 miles (370km) to the south, on the Yana River, dating back at least 32,500 years, according to archaeologists. 

The expedition was organised by the Academy of Sciences in Yakutia and the Russian Geographical Society

The expedition was organised by the Academy of Sciences in Yakutia and the Russian Geographical Society

The land bridge sank beneath the waves beginning some 15,000 years ago, but Stolbovoy ¿ with its high cliffs ¿ remains above the surface

The land bridge sank beneath the waves beginning some 15,000 years ago, but Stolbovoy – with its high cliffs – remains above the surface

The previous most northerly known outpost of ancient man was 230 miles (370km) to the south, on the Yana River, dating back at least 32,500 years, according to archaeologists

The previous most northerly known outpost of ancient man was 230 miles (370km) to the south, on the Yana River, dating back at least 32,500 years, according to archaeologists

Native Americans descended from people who migrated to the Americas from eastern Asia. These ancestors first settled in an area called 'Beringia' - a vast Bering land bridge that once linked Siberia and Alaska

Native Americans descended from people who migrated to the Americas from eastern Asia. These ancestors first settled in an area called 'Beringia' - a vast Bering land bridge that once linked Siberia and Alaska

Giant ice sheets to the east and hundreds of miles of uninhabitable tundra to the southwest prevented migration into North America

Giant ice sheets to the east and hundreds of miles of uninhabitable tundra to the southwest prevented migration into North America

Humans first reached the Americas around 15,000 years ago before slowly migrating south

The conventional story says that the earliest settlers came via Siberia, crossing the now-defunct Bering land bridge on foot and trekking through Canada. 

In recent years, evidence has mounted against the conventional thinking that humans populated North America by taking an inland route through Canada.

To do so, they would have needed to walk through a narrow, ice-free ribbon of terrain that appeared when two major ice sheets started to separate.

But recent research suggests that while this path may have opened up more than 14,000 years ago, it did not develop enough biological diversity to support human life until about 13,000 years ago.

That clashes with archaeological findings that suggest humans were already living in Chile about 15,000 years ago or more and in Florida 14,500 years ago.

Scientists now believe the first Americans could have taken a coastal route along Alaska's Pacific border to enter the continent.

This theory provides an alternative narrative and could mark a step toward solving the mystery of how humans came to the Americas.

By analysing boulders and bedrock, researchers from the University at Buffalo say they have 'direct evidence' that part of a coastal migration route along Alaska's Pacific became accessible to humans 17,000 years ago.

During this period, ancient glaciers receded, exposing islands of southern Alaska's Alexander.

The area was home to food sources such as ancient ringed seal that could support human life at the time that early settlers may have been passing through.

Recent genetic and archaeological estimates suggest that settlers may have begun travelling deeper into the Americas some 16,000 years ago, soon after the coastal gateway opened up.

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