Download Sample post for a Link1 During the last Ice Age, there were many

Sample post for a Link1
During the last Ice Age, there were many more areas of dry land that allowed for human
migration (Fischer, 2013). This more arid landscape allowed for humans to migrate to places that
were entirely new. This is true of both the Pacific and of the New World. Fischer (2013) showed
how the Pacific pattern of migration was complex, but this was also true for peopling of the New
World.
One reason for the complexity in the discussion of New World migrations is the lingering debate
over its timing. Some researchers argued for a recent timeframe of about 14,000 years ago.
Others say the timing was earlier, as much as 25,000 years (Schurr, 2004). This difference in
dates reflects the source of debate. If the later date is true, this “Clovis First” view means humans
walked across the Bering land bridge. If the earlier date is true, this “Pre-Cloivs” interpretation
means humans paddled down the Pacific Coast to reach habitable land in the New World.
No matter the timing of the New World migrations, it is commonly agreed that around12,000
years the sea levels rose globally (Fischer, 2013; Schurr, 2004). Fischer (2013) suggested that
this was a fast process geologically, but slower culturally. Most important, in Melanesia, this rise
in sea levels resulted in the separation of land bridges. The same was true concerning the Bering
land bridge, but there was a significant difference in this region. The melting of the glaciers
opened up large lands to the New World migrants (Schurr, 2004).
It is clear that the shifts in environmental conditions during the last Ice Age were linked to both
the peopling of the Pacific and the New World. In particular, the subsequent warming broke
apart land bridges in both locations. But, while this resulted in greater travel distances in the
Pacific, in the New World traveling was made much easier. A comparison of the differing
patterns of migration illustrate the complexity of the human diaspora.
Word count = 326
References
Fischer, S. R. (2013). The first migrants. In A history of the Pacific Islands (2nd ed., pp. 1-23).
New York: Palgrave-MacMillan.
Schurr, T. G. (2004). The peopling of the New World: Perspectives from molecular
anthropology. Annual Review of Anthropology, 33, 551–83.2
I used a geographic region NOT on our list so I could illustrate how this is done, without
duplicating your country choice.
2
I retrieved this source by using ProQuest under the EvCC Library link. No need to provide a
reference to ProQuest in the citation.
1
Sample post for a Visit 3
As noted in the Link, there was world-spread human migration that occurred at the end of the last
Ice Age (Fischer, 2013; Schurr, 2004). Both sources talk about the importance of archaeological
sites, and other physical evidence. Schurr (2004) emphasized the latest genetic evidence. In fact,
this is the main focus of this report, while Fischer (2013) briefly nods to DNA data when
discussing the first migrants to Australia.
Schurr (2004) suggested there are five variants of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) found in
indigenous populations of America. The author also presents Y chromosome data for New
World migration.
It might have been useful for Fischer (2013) to include more of a discussion on genetic evidence.
As seen in Schurr (2004) these types of data were very useful when looking at the geographic
origins and timing of migrations. Perhaps you could link a discussion of the types of data,
presented by Fischer, more clearly to this Link source.
Word count= 156
References
Fischer, S. R. (2013). The first migrants. In A history of the Pacific Islands (2nd ed., pp. 1-23).
New York: Palgrave-MacMillan.
Schurr, T. G. (2004). The peopling of the New World: Perspectives from molecular
anthropology. Annual Review of Anthropology, 33, 551–83.
3
Remember, you do have to post 5 of these Visits, each to a different fellow student.