1er Año - El Poblamiento Americano
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Ana Maria Cotrina1er Año - El Poblamiento Americano
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Ana Maria CotrinaCommon questions
Con tecnología de IAThe concept of 'racial family resemblances' is used in migration theories to either support or challenge existing hypotheses. Alex Hrdlicka uses similarities in physical traits across Native American populations to support a monoracial theory, suggesting a common Asian ancestor. However, critics like Paul Rivet challenge this by showing that such traits could arise from polyracial origins, facilitated by multiple migration waves, including Melanesian and Polynesian. This concept can thereby both reinforce and question the simplistic binary views of origins, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of migration patterns and genetic diversity in the Americas .
Paul Rivet's polyracial theory challenges Alex Hrdlicka's monoracial view by proposing that the peopling of America involved multiple migratory currents, not just the Asian-mongoloid lineage. Rivet suggested that apart from the Asian migration through the Bering Strait, groups such as Melanesians and Polynesians also crossed the Pacific, and even an Australian migration happened via Antarctica. This theory counters Hrdlicka’s hypothesis of a single Asian-mongoloid origin by providing multiple lines of evidence, including anthropological, ethnographic, and linguistic similarities, to suggest a more complex migratory history .
Paul Rivet and Mendes Correa argue against Alex Hrdlicka’s monoracial origin theory by proposing alternative migratory routes and sources for American populations, suggesting a polyracial origin instead. Rivet supports his theory by highlighting similarities in bio-physical traits, cultural practices, and linguistic attributes between American and Oceanic peoples, positing additional migrations from Melanesia and Polynesia via the Pacific Ocean. Mendes Correa proposes another route through Antarctica by Australian groups, with evidence from cultural and physical similarities observed in native South American groups in Patagonia .
Geographic and geologic factors enhance understanding of ancient migration routes by providing physical explanations for how these migrations could occur. For example, the Bering land bridge theory is geologically supported by the presence of Beringia, a landmass exposed due to eustatic changes during the Pleistocene glaciations, allowing migrations from Asia. Similarly, theories about Pacific migrations are enhanced by understanding ocean currents that could aid transoceanic travel. Geological evidence of glacial and interglacial periods also informs theories like that of Mendes Correa, proposing routes through Antarctica when climate conditions allowed .
Alex Hrdlicka presents several lines of evidence to support his Asian-origin theory, including antroposomatic similarities such as straight, dark hair, the presence of the Mongolian epicanthic fold, broad, prominent cheekbones, shovel-shaped incisors, and the so-called 'Mongolian spot.' Linguistically, he points to the polysynthetic and agglutinative nature of both Native American and Asian languages. Geographically, he notes the proximity of Asia to America (90 km), facilitated by the Bering land bridge during the Pleistocene glaciation, which enabled migrations .
Anthropological and cultural evidence supporting the Australian migration theory includes observed similarities in physical characteristics like blood group types and cranial shapes between indigenous Patagonian groups and Australian aborigines. Culturally, shared practices such as the use of similar shelters and traditional tools like boomerangs and churingas point to a common heritage or influence. The presence of analogous cultural artifacts suggests interactions or shared ancestries facilitated by a migration route through Antarctica to South America, as outlined by Mendes Correa .
The main criticisms of Florentino Ameghino's autochthonous theory were provided by anthropologist Alex Hrdlicka, who argued that Ameghino's data was incorrect. Hrdlicka demonstrated that the geological strata where Ameghino found the bone remains were not from the Tertiary era but rather from the Quaternary. He also noted the absence of 'intercontinental bridges' at the end of the Tertiary that could have connected America with the Old World, and identified Ameghino's fossils as a mix of recent human bones with those of American monkeys and felines .
Linguistic similarities support the idea of trans-Pacific migrations in Paul Rivet's theory through the identification of commonalities between certain indigenous American and Oceanic languages. For instance, Rivet highlights similar vocabularies between Melanesian languages and those of North American Indians such as the Hoka. He also finds resemblances in specific words like 'kumara,' 'uno,' and 'pucara,' which appear in both Maori and Quechua, suggesting cultural exchanges or common ancestries brought by migrations across the Pacific .
The phenomenon of eustatic change during the Wisconsin glaciation supports the Asian-origin theory of migration by explaining how the drop in sea levels exposed the Bering land bridge, known as Beringia. This land connection, created as the sea level dropped by about 100 meters, allowed Paleolithic Asian populations to migrate into the North American continent towards the end of the Pleistocene era. These conditions provided a viable route for human migration from Asia to North America, forming the basis of the Asian-origin theory supported by Hrdlicka .
The significance of finding similarities in ritual practices between Melanesian and Amazonian tribes lies in the support it provides for trans-Pacific migration theories. Shared practices, such as trophy head hunting and specific mourning rituals, suggest historical cultural exchanges or common origins, indicating that Melanesian migrations to South America could have occurred as Rivet proposed. These cultural parallels bolster the argument against a strictly monoracial migration model and support a polyracial, multifaceted migration history for the Americas .
