Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Researchers Defend Monte Verde’s Older Age in Chile
Scientists disagree about how old the Monte Verde site in Chile really is.
One group says people lived there about 14,500 years ago.
Another study said the site may be only about 4,200 to 8,200 years old.
The younger date would mean Monte Verde does not show that people reached the Americas very early.
Researchers supporting the older date say the newer study misunderstood the site’s geology.
They especially disagree about a volcanic ash layer that the newer study placed below the human evidence.
Tom Dillehay says investigators never saw that ash layer at the site.
Todd Surovell says his team’s work has been carefully examined and its main conclusions still stand.
More independent research may be needed to settle the disagreement.
Two research groups defend evidence that Monte Verde was occupied about 14,500 years ago.
A March Science study dated the site to roughly 4,200–8,200 years ago.
The newer study identified an approximately 11,000-year-old volcanic ash layer beneath occupation evidence.
Tom Dillehay said the ash layer was never observed by investigators working at the site since 1977.
Todd Surovell defended his team’s methods and called for further independent research.
- Who
- Researchers led by Tom Dillehay and Todd Surovell, along with other scientists studying Monte Verde.
- What
- Scientists are disputing whether Monte Verde was occupied about 14,500 years ago or is substantially younger.
- When
- The older dating was announced in 1997; a conflicting study was published in March, followed by responses published in PaleoAmerica on Aug. 31.
- Where
- Monte Verde, a creek valley in southern Chile about 36 miles (58 km) from the Pacific coast.
- Why
- The site’s age could affect understanding of when humans first spread through the Americas.
Older occupation
Younger occupation
Age of Monte Verde
Older occupation
Tom Dillehay and supporting researchers maintain that the site contains evidence of human occupation about 14,500 years ago.
Younger occupation
Todd Surovell and colleagues concluded that the site dates to roughly 4,200–8,200 years ago.
Volcanic ash layer
Older occupation
Dillehay said the approximately 11,000-year-old ash layer described in the Science study was never observed by investigators working at Monte Verde since 1977 and was based on geology outside the archaeological area.
Younger occupation
Surovell’s study used the ash layer below the occupation evidence as evidence that the human presence was more recent than about 11,000 years ago.
Scientific interpretation
Older occupation
Dillehay said the newer researchers did not show that the original geological interpretation was wrong and accused them of selecting evidence to support a predetermined conclusion.
Younger occupation
Surovell said the study had received substantial scrutiny and that no criticism had undermined its central methods, data, or conclusions.
- Older proposed age
- About 14,500 years
- Younger proposed age
- About 4,200 to 8,200 years
- Conflicting study
- Published in Science in March
- Response studies
- Published in PaleoAmerica
- Site location
- Southern Chile, about 36 miles (58 km) from the Pacific coast
- Key disputed evidence
- An approximately 11,000-year-old volcanic ash layer said to lie below occupation evidence
- Preserved materials
- Footprints, fires, wooden tools and stakes, plants, potatoes, animal remains, structures, and seaweed