The most widely accepted theory is that the first Americans arrived in the Western Hemisphere via the Bering Land Bridge, a landmass that once connected Asia and North America. During the last ice age, sea levels were much lower, exposing the land bridge and allowing humans and animals to migrate from Asia to North America. The first migrants are believed to have crossed the Bering Land Bridge around 15,000 to 13,000 years ago.
Once in North America, these early migrants spread out across the continent, eventually reaching South America. The first evidence of human habitation in South America dates back to around 12,000 years ago.
Other Theories
There are other theories about how the first Americans arrived in the Western Hemisphere, but they are less widely accepted. Some scholars believe that humans may have arrived by boat from Asia, while others believe that they may have come from Europe.
Evidence
There is a variety of evidence to support the Bering Land Bridge theory. This evidence includes:
* Archaeological evidence, such as stone tools and weapons, found in both Asia and North America that date back to the same time period.
* Genetic evidence, which shows that Native Americans are closely related to people from Asia.
* Linguistic evidence, which shows that some Native American languages are related to languages spoken in Asia.
The Bering Land Bridge theory is not without its critics, but it remains the most widely accepted explanation for how the first Americans arrived in the Western Hemisphere.