Rare Evidence Proves Humans In Louisiana 10,000 Years Ago

A recent find at the Kisatchie National Forest proves that humans were inhabiting western Louisiana during the Ice Age as much as 10,000 to 12,000 years ago.

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This Is The Oldest And Largest Site Ever Discovered in Wester Louisiana

An article recently published by thetowntalk.com shows that:

Dating back to the end of the last Ice Age around 10-12,000 years ago, archaeologists with the Kisatchie National Forest and the Public Archaeology Laboratory at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette have determined that this is one of the oldest and largest prehistoric archaeological sites in Western Louisiana.

They have found material while digging about 7-8 feet down at the site that indicates that, said Matt Helmer, Heritage Program Manager with Kisatchie National Forest.

This further illustrates the findings mentioned by 64parishes.org that suggest humans have inhabited Louisiana for thousands of years.

The diverse cultures present when Europeans arrived in Louisiana had ancient roots. Stone spear points, called Clovis points, indicate that American Indians were in Louisiana at least as early as 11,500 BCE, when Pleistocene megafauna (literally “large animals”), including mastodons, were commonplace. As the last Ice Age ended and the climate warmed, American Indians adapted to changing natural and social landscapes. These adaptations are evidenced by changes in tools like projectile points and pottery.

What Actually Drove These Early Inhabitants To Western Louisiana?

One can only speculate that it might have been the extreme climate change of the Ice Age that drove these native Americans as far south as Louisiana, but these findings certainly prove they were here.

Contrary to any earlier findings, these cultures weren't exclusive to eastern Louisiana around the Mississippi River.  They were also in the western regions of the state, and it would appear there was a large population that might have been in the area for a considerable time.

As thetowntalk.com wrote, “This could rewrite the history books on what we know about the Native Americans in this area,” Lisa Lewis, Forest Supervisor of Kisatchie National Forest.