Minnesota Woman, Archaeological site near Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, US.
Minnesota Woman is an archaeological site near Pelican Rapids where human remains were discovered during road construction. The bones lay about nine feet below the surface next to a lake, along with tools and ornaments from different regions.
The remains were discovered in 1931 and date back about 8,000 years. This was an important discovery because it changed scientists' understanding of how long humans had lived in America.
The objects found with the remains tell of trade relationships across great distances. An elk horn dagger and a shell pendant from Florida show that early people in North America were connected to one another.
The site is accessible through a simple wayside rest area equipped with information markers by the Minnesota Historical Society. Visiting requires no special preparation, but it is best to go when visibility is good to easily find the markers.
The remains belonged to a 15-year-old girl preserved under sediment at the bottom of an ancient glacial lake. This rare preservation condition allowed researchers to learn details about her life and connections.
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