Two stones fuel debate over when America’s first settlers arrived

Microscopic bone residue on rocks possibly used to smash mastodon remains draws new scrutiny

stone with microscopic bone residue

Microscopic bone residue found on this stone supports a disputed claim that the rock was used to break apart mastodon bones at a southern California site around 130,000 years ago, researchers say.

James Berrian/San Diego Natural History Museum

Scientific debate about the most controversial archaeological site in the Americas has entered rocky new territory.