Recent evidence (Footprints, Monte Verde, artifacts and DNA analysis) suggests:
1. Coastal Route & Migration Waves: The “First Americans” arrived via a coastal route in three stages: (1) Wave Zero, (2) First Wave, and (3) Subsequent Waves. These correspond to stone tool classifications A, B, and C, showing a clear evolution from primitive to sophisticated craftsmanship with striking similarities between Japanese and American artifacts.
2. Correcting Hokkaido Ancestral Origins: Scholars often misidentify the maritime ancestors who adapted to the harsh northern seas.
- The Misconception: They were ANA (Ancient North Asian) lineages migrating south from Sakhalin.
- The Reality: They originated from Aomori. The Sakhalin microblade culture appeared too late to meet the “First American” migration timeline.
- The Lineage: These ancestors were a unification of populations moving north through the Mutsu Plains from both Eastern and Western Japan. Crucially, they were descendants of the seafaring peoples of Izu.
—RSoJS