How ancient Siberians first reached the Americas
About 15,000 years ago, early humans crossed the Bering land bridge from Asia, beginning the epic peopling of the Americas and shaping its diverse cultures forever.
Around 15,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age, early humans crossed the Bering land bridge, a vast strip of land connecting Asia and North America. This incredible journey, made possible by lower sea levels, allowed the first people to enter the Americas. They were hunter-gatherers, following large game like mammoths across this now-submerged pathway. Archaeological finds, such as the 13,000-year-old Clovis sites, support this timeline, though some evidence suggests even earlier arrivals. This migration fundamentally shaped the diverse cultures and languages of Indigenous peoples across two continents, linking them directly to ancient Siberian ancestors.