America's Stone Age Explorers

Who were the first Americans and how did they get here? This typically engrossing episode of NOVA (reworked for PBS broadcast from an original BBC program) addresses this ongoing mystery by examining the latest archaeological theories, which challenge the previously held belief that Ice Age big-game hunters entered the continent by crossing a land bridge that spanned the Bering Strait between Asia and Alaska. In fact, the newest speculation suggests that the explorers may have embarked on a treacherous canoe voyage from Asia to west-coast America, or even crossed the Atlantic from Europe! Much of this fascinating archaeological detective work revolves around the evolution of the "Clovis point"--a specific kind of spear and arrow point, carved from stone that was first discovered in Clovis, New Mexico in 1932. How the Clovis point factors into these conflicting theories suggests that the truth about America's first explorers must be explained by one of these scientific postulations…or, perhaps, by an entirely different and more fantastical theory yet to be sufficiently supported. NOVA does its usual stellar job of presenting the facts and figures, along with CGI animations that colorfully illustrate the theories under discussion, and while there are no solid answers given, the mystery is enticing enough. DVD extras include printable materials for educators. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Shannon)