Re: Extinction

["TRUETT GARNER" <DINOBOY@worldnet.att.net>]

> >Or do you simply attribute the whole of the Late Pliestocene/Holocene
> >extinctions to human action?
> >
>Yes, though it is possible that climatic stress may have rendered some
>animal population more vulnerable to human predation.

Actually, I suspect the combination was a major factor.  Also some of the 
Late Pleistocene extinction in North America appear to have *preceded* 
human arrival here, at least based on the dating of finds in the La Brea 
Pits here in LA.  (Even though the peak extinctions occurred shortly after 
our arrival).  


Homo sapien occupation of North and South America has traditionally
been associated with Clovis/Fulsom projectile points that date to 14,000
mya .New evidence now puts the origin of these points in the southeast
instead of western North America ,indicating a much earlier appearance here
, for Homo sapiens. More and more the human occupation date in North and
South America is being pushed back . A 14,000 yr. old Clovis site has been
found in Peru and newer sites in North America seem to indicate a human
occupation around 20,000 - 30,000 yrs. old . Given that proposed length of
time , I find it quite feasible that mammoths , bison , camel and horse ,
to name a few , were indeed hunted to extinction by this new clever ,
well-armed predator for which they had no natural fear of , or defense .
My $.02 worth,
Regards , 
Truett Garner