Scientists discover oldest known human remains in South America

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - OCT. 12: Researchers from the University's Faculty of Natural Sciences (UNLP) have discovered the oldest evidence of human presence in South America at the La Plata Museum in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The fossilized remains of a glyptodon found in Merlo, Buenos Aires, show signs of having been slaughtered and eaten by humans around 21,000 years ago. This groundbreaking discovery reveals that humans lived in the South American region as early as 16,000 years ago. The findings were recently published in the academic journal PLOS One. The discovery pushes the timeline of human settlement in South America much further back. Mariano del Papa, Bachelor of Anthropology and PhD in Natural Sciences, led the research team. He said: "Our discovery, along with others, shows that human presence in South America predates the melting of the glaciers. We found 32 cut marks distributed across these anatomical units, which are evidence of human activity". This discovery adds crucial evidence to the hypothesis that humans colonised the Americas much earlier than previously thought. The location of the glyptodon remains, near the Reconquista River, has opened up new perspectives on human history, showing that early humans lived and thrived in these environments during the last glacial maximum. (Footage by /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)