Topper (archaeological site)
Encyclopedia
Topper is an archaeological
site located along the Savannah River
in Allendale County, South Carolina
in the United States
. It is noted as the location of controversial artifacts believed by some archaeologists to indicate human habitation of the New World
earlier than the Clovis culture, previously believed to be the first people in North America. Artifacts at this site may predate Clovis by 3,000 years or more. The primary excavation has gone down to the 50,000 B.C. level, searching for any other archaeological evidence. Until increasing challenges in the first decade of the 21st century to the Clovis theory based on this site and others, it was unusual for archaeologists to dig deeper than the layer of the Clovis culture, as they then believed that no human artifacts would be found older than Clovis.
Since the 1930s, the prevailing theory concerning the peopling of the New World is that the first human inhabitants were the Clovis people
, who are thought to have appeared approximately 13,500 years ago. Artifacts of the Clovis people are found throughout most of the United States
and as far south as Panama
. The standard theory has been challenged in recent decades with the discovery and dating of pre-Clovis sites such as Monte Verde
in Southern Chile, Cactus Hill
in Virginia and Buttermilk Creek in Texas. To date, no consistent pre-Clovis cultural patterns have been established; the accuracy of these claims has been disputed, though that dispute is tipping in favor of the pre-Clovis understanding.
In 2004, Albert Goodyear
of the University of South Carolina
Institute of Archaeology
and Anthropology
announced that carbonized plant remains, found as a dark stain in the light soil at the lowest excavated level at the Topper Site, had been radiocarbon dated to approximately 50,000 years ago, or approximately 37,000 years before the Clovis people. Goodyear, who began excavating the Topper site in the 1980s, believes that lithic artifacts at that level are rudimentary stone tools. Other archaeologists dispute this conclusion, suggesting that the artifacts are natural and not human-made. Other archaeologists also have challenged the radiocarbon dating of the carbonized remains at Topper, arguing that 1) the stain represented the result of a natural fire, and 2) 50,000 years is the theoretical upper limit of effective radiocarbon dating. Goodyear discovered the artifacts by digging 4 meters deeper than the Clovis artifacts readily found at the site. Before discovering the oldest lithics
, he had discovered other artifacts which he claimed were tools dating around 16,000 years old, or about 3,000 years before Clovis.
The Allendale-Topper site welcomes lay people with an interest in archaeology to work at the site as volunteer archaeologists during each year's dig in late spring/early summer. They work in various field and lab roles on teams headed by professional archaeologists and graduate students, living at the expedition's campgrounds or in public accommodations at nearby Barnwell, S.C. They may join evening programs and discussions with visiting experts and researchers. Information and registration is available on the Allendale-Topper website.
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
site located along the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
in Allendale County, South Carolina
Allendale County, South Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,211 people, 3,915 households and 2,615 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 4,568 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is noted as the location of controversial artifacts believed by some archaeologists to indicate human habitation of the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
earlier than the Clovis culture, previously believed to be the first people in North America. Artifacts at this site may predate Clovis by 3,000 years or more. The primary excavation has gone down to the 50,000 B.C. level, searching for any other archaeological evidence. Until increasing challenges in the first decade of the 21st century to the Clovis theory based on this site and others, it was unusual for archaeologists to dig deeper than the layer of the Clovis culture, as they then believed that no human artifacts would be found older than Clovis.
Since the 1930s, the prevailing theory concerning the peopling of the New World is that the first human inhabitants were the Clovis people
Clovis culture
The Clovis culture is a prehistoric Paleo-Indian culture that first appears 11,500 RCYBP , at the end of the last glacial period, characterized by the manufacture of "Clovis points" and distinctive bone and ivory tools...
, who are thought to have appeared approximately 13,500 years ago. Artifacts of the Clovis people are found throughout most of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and as far south as Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. The standard theory has been challenged in recent decades with the discovery and dating of pre-Clovis sites such as Monte Verde
Monte Verde
Monte Verde is an archaeological site in southern Chile, located in the northern Patagonia near Puerto Montt, Chile, which has been dated to 14,800 years BP . This dating adds to the evidence showing that settlement in the Americas pre-dates the Clovis culture by roughly 1000 years...
in Southern Chile, Cactus Hill
Cactus Hill
Cactus Hill is an archaeological site in southeastern Virginia, United States. The site sits on sand dunes above the Nottoway River and lies about 45 miles south of Richmond. The site is owned by the International Paper Corporation....
in Virginia and Buttermilk Creek in Texas. To date, no consistent pre-Clovis cultural patterns have been established; the accuracy of these claims has been disputed, though that dispute is tipping in favor of the pre-Clovis understanding.
In 2004, Albert Goodyear
Albert Goodyear
Albert C. Goodyear III is an archaeologist who is founder and director of the Allendale PaleoIndian Expedition in South Carolina, where he has unearthed controversial evidence that may greatly move back the date of occupation of North America by humans to 50,000 years or more before the present...
of the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
Institute of Archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
and Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
announced that carbonized plant remains, found as a dark stain in the light soil at the lowest excavated level at the Topper Site, had been radiocarbon dated to approximately 50,000 years ago, or approximately 37,000 years before the Clovis people. Goodyear, who began excavating the Topper site in the 1980s, believes that lithic artifacts at that level are rudimentary stone tools. Other archaeologists dispute this conclusion, suggesting that the artifacts are natural and not human-made. Other archaeologists also have challenged the radiocarbon dating of the carbonized remains at Topper, arguing that 1) the stain represented the result of a natural fire, and 2) 50,000 years is the theoretical upper limit of effective radiocarbon dating. Goodyear discovered the artifacts by digging 4 meters deeper than the Clovis artifacts readily found at the site. Before discovering the oldest lithics
Lithic Technology
In archeology, lithic technology refers to a broad array of techniques and styles to produce usable tools from various types of stone. The earliest stone tools were recovered from modern Ethiopia and were dated to between two-million and three-million years old...
, he had discovered other artifacts which he claimed were tools dating around 16,000 years old, or about 3,000 years before Clovis.
The Allendale-Topper site welcomes lay people with an interest in archaeology to work at the site as volunteer archaeologists during each year's dig in late spring/early summer. They work in various field and lab roles on teams headed by professional archaeologists and graduate students, living at the expedition's campgrounds or in public accommodations at nearby Barnwell, S.C. They may join evening programs and discussions with visiting experts and researchers. Information and registration is available on the Allendale-Topper website.
External links
- Allendale Paleoamerican Expedition - official site
- Topper Site layers photo Stratigraphic layers photo of the Topper Site and the Pre-Clovis layers.
- Topper Site: Beyond Clovis at Allendale
- South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology
- Another Perspective on the Topper pre-Clovis Material
- CNN: "Man In Americas Earlier Than Thought", Quote: The University of South Carolina announces radiocarbon tests that dated the first human settlement in North America to 50,000 years ago.
