Disparate perspectives on evidence from the Cerutti Mastodon site: A reply to Braje et al.
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
The Perspective editorial by Braje, T., T. D. Dillehay, J. M. Erlandson, S. M. Fitzpatrick, D. K. Grayson, V. T. Holliday, R. L. Kelly, R. G. Klein, D. J. Meltzer, and T. C. Rick (2017. “Were Hominins in California ∼130,000 Years Ago?” PaleoAmerica 3 (3): 200–202) takes issue with our argument [Holen, S. R., T. A. Deméré, D. C. Fisher, R. Fullagar, J. B. Paces, G. T. Jefferson, J. M. Beeton, et al. (2017. “A 130,000-Year-Old Archaeological Site in Southern California, USA.” Nature 544 (7651): 479–483) that the assemblage of bones and stones at the Cerutti Mastodon (CM) site implicates hominin activity in site formation 130,000 years ago. Braje et al. propose instead that features of the CM site can be better explained by geological or other causes unrelated to ancient human activity. However, we contend that their conclusion reflects an incomplete assessment of our evidence. They further propose a standard of evidence at odds with current practice in the philosophy of science, and misuse a commonly quoted aphorism that “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.”
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Disparate perspectives on evidence from the Cerutti Mastodon site: A reply to Braje et al. |
| Series title | PaleoAmerica |
| DOI | 10.1080/20555563.2017.1396836 |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 2018 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis |
| Contributing office(s) | Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center |
| Description | 4 p. |
| First page | 12 |
| Last page | 15 |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Other Geospatial | Cerutti Mastodon site |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |