From dinosaur fossils to cliff dwellings, from caverns to an extinct volcano, New Mexico offers an enchanting world of natural wonders and discoveries. Recently, it was confirmed that the oldest human footprints in North America were discovered at White Sands National Park. Dating back 21,000-23,000 years, this discovery shows that humans lived here much earlier than previously thought.

Located in the Tularosa Basin in Alamogordo, New Mexico, White Sands National Park is a natural wonder. Known for its desert landscape made of white gypsum, it's the largest of its kind in the world.
Paolo Andreotti/Google Reviews
The landscape here is vast and magnificent. It's no wonder why scientists and archaeologists are still making discoveries here.
Tim Kaiser/Google Reviews
In September 2021, a major discovery was made in the Tularosa Basin. The set of fossilized human footprints is believed to be between 21,000 and 23,000 years old. This happens to be the oldest set of human footprints found in North America so far.
NPS.gov

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Recent research verifying the evidence points to the fact that humans were here for thousands of years earlier than scientists previously thought.
Haritha Reddy/Google Reviews
The early human footprints were found buried beneath layers of gypsum at White Sands. This was such a remarkable find at this world-renowned destination in New Mexico.
NPS.gov
The study that dates the footprints back 21,000-23,000 years ago used radiocarbon dating on seeds that were found embedded in the fossilized prints.
NPS.gov
This places early humans in the same time frame as the Pleistocene era. Humans at this time coexisted with animals like woolly mammoths and giant sloths. Isn't that amazing?
NPS.gov

 

Did you know that the oldest human footprints in North America were discovered at White Sands National Park? I think that is such an incredible discovery! To learn more about the prehistoric human footprints at White Sands, visit the National Park Service website.

If you love exploring all that the state has to offer, check out these natural wonders in New Mexico that are absolutely awe-inspiring. And if you decide to take a road trip to one of the state’s natural attractions like White Sands National Park, check out our road trip essentials packing list before you go!

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White Sands National Park, New Mexico, USA