Since October 11, 1492, there have been many questions on the topic of early human populations in the Western Hemisphere. These questions remained unanswered until 1926, when archaeologists in New Mexico found a spear point lodged in the ribcage of a mammoth dating back 11,500 years according to radiocarbon testing. Based on this discovery, known as the Clovis point, researchers realized there must have been a human presence in North America at the same time.

Since the discovery of the Clovis spear point, more than 500 archaeological sites have been claimed to predate the Clovis culture. Some of these sites, such as the Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Pennsylvania, indicate that humans have been in the Americas significantly longer than the Clovis culture; in this case, 16,000 years ago. Dr. J.M. Adovasio, Director of the Anthropology and Archaeology Department at Mercyhurst College, is well known in the archaeological community for his ongoing research at the Meadowcroft site, and his enduring debate with members of the archaeological community about when humans first populated the Americas.

The public is invited to attend this event, co-sponsored by Friends Of State Archaeology (FOSA) and the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and Connecticut Archaeology Center.