When Scientists Saw This, They Didn't Believe It -- And Neither Will You

When Scientists Saw This, They Didn't Believe It -- And Neither Will You

Have you ever heard of the Hoyo Negro, or the Yucatan Peninsula? Probably not, but it’s becoming more and more famous -- because there was a discovery in there that could change what scientists think about human migration and evolution.

During a dive in the Hoyo Negro (Black Hole), scientists found a Paleoamerican skull and many bones at the bottom. They brought the skeleton up and named it Naia (her scientific name is HN5/48) . She is 12,000 years old, yet Naia was only a teenager when she fell to her death in the underwater chamber.

Naia is the “oldest, most complete, and genetically intact” human skeleton ever found. She helped settle the debate as to whether Native Americans and Paleoamericans are descended from the same people.

The scientists carefully observed Naia’s mtDNA, bones, and skull, and here’s what they concluded:

• Paleoamericans and Native Americans did not have different ancestors, evolution created all the different somatic properties.
• Naia’s facial features relate to both groups of people.
• Her mtDNA is from Beringians and it relates to modern Natives and Paleoamericans.

This DNA confirms a lot of the team’s theories about the first Americans, but scientists continue to discuss whether Naia’s DNA actually proves the theory that Paleoamericans and Native Americans are descended from the same people.