First Peoples

Americas

As early humans spread out across the world, their toughest challenge was colonizing the Americas because a huge ice sheet blocked the route. It has long been thought that the first Americans were Clovis people, who arrived 13,000 years ago. But an underwater discovery in Mexico suggests people arrived earlier — coming by boat, not on foot.

Americas

54m 40s

As early humans spread out across the world, their toughest challenge was colonizing the Americas because a huge ice sheet blocked the route. It has long been thought that the first Americans were Clovis people, who arrived 13,000 years ago. But an underwater discovery in Mexico suggests people arrived earlier — coming by boat, not on foot.

Previews + Extras

  • Eva of Naharon - The First American?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Eva of Naharon - The First American?

    S1 E1 - 1m 2s

    Eva of Naharon was discovered by archaeologists on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Her remains, which are far older than any others found in the Americas, have changed what we know about the arrival of the first people on the double continent.

  • The Clovis Point - The First American Invention: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Clovis Point - The First American Invention

    S1 E1 - 48s

    It has long been thought that the first Americans were Clovis people, who arrived 13,000 years ago. The Clovis point is an amazing piece of Stone Age technology used to hunt animals. In a lot of ways, the Clovis point can be considered the first American invention. On First Peoples: Americas, watch a demonstration of how the invention was used for ancient hunting.

Similar Shows

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.