Calico Early Man Site, Archaeological site in San Bernardino County, United States.
Calico Early Man Site lies in the Calico Hills of the central Mojave Desert, east of the Calico Peaks in San Bernardino County. The diggings cut into late middle Pleistocene fanglomerates, now-cemented alluvial debris-flow deposits, and younger inset terraces. A small tan-sided building with dark brown trim and a shallow gabled roof serves as the visitor center, marked by a red plaque and a brown sign reading "Calico Early Man Archaeological Site".
Ruth DeEtte Simpson and Louis Leakey began excavations in 1964 and worked for decades to investigate the location. Their work sparked debates about early human presence in North America that continue among researchers today.
Holocene petroglyphs and trail segments lie near outcrops of high-quality siliceous rock, mainly chalcedony in freshwater limestone. The sources do not state that Native Americans used these paths to transport the stone; the connection is probable, not demonstrated.
The excavation area sits roughly 10 miles (16 km) west of Calico Ghost Town and can be reached by gravel roads. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and carry water, as the surroundings are dry and remote.
Dating estimates for the stone tools reach back as far as 200,000 years and challenge common theories about when humans first arrived in the Americas. This timeframe is far earlier than the previously accepted settlement periods for the continent.
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