Idaho
16,000-Year-Old Tools Found in Idaho May Rewrite the Story of the First Americans
New archaeological findings published in Science challenge long-standing theories about when and how humans first reached North America. According to researchers excavating the Cooper’s Ferry site in western Idaho, artifacts suggest a human presence as early as 16,000 years ago—over a thousand years before the traditionally accepted migration across the Bering Land Bridge.
Radiocarbon Dating Pushes Timeline of First Settlers Back by Millennia
The excavation at Cooper’s Ferry, situated near the Lower Salmon River, uncovered nearly 200 items, including stone tools, debris from tool production, and extinct animal bones. Radiocarbon dating of organic remains, such as bone fragments from a long-extinct horse, places human activity at the site between 16,560 and 15,280 years ago. This predates the opening of the ice-free corridor, once believed to be the primary migration route for early settlers into North America.
This evidence has led researchers to question the Clovis-first model, which posited that the earliest inhabitants crossed the Bering Strait about 13,000 years ago. Instead, the findings favor a coastal migration theory, where ancient peoples may have traveled by boat along the Pacific coast, entering the continent earlier and through a different route than previously thought.
Lead study author Loren Davis, a professor of anthropology at Oregon State University, noted that his team’s discoveries have “refuted the hypothesis of the ice-free corridor,” and that they lend “great support to the idea that people came down the Pacific Coast instead.”
Archaeological Evidence Suggests Links to Ancient Japan
A striking feature of the artifacts uncovered at Cooper’s Ferry is their resemblance to tools found in northern Japan from a similar era. The shape, craftsmanship, and materials suggest a shared technological heritage, raising the possibility of a cultural continuum stretching from Asia into the Americas.
“So one hypothesis is simply that you’re looking at the extension culturally of people that are bringing these ideas with them from northern Japan,” said Davis. If this connection is confirmed, it would imply not just migration, but also a transfer of cultural knowledge over thousands of miles and years.
This hypothesis is still under review, with more comparative analysis of toolmaking styles planned by the research team. If verified, it would suggest that the ancestors of Native Americans may have had a far more diverse and complex migration history than current models allow.
Criticism and Ongoing Debate Among Archaeologists
Not all experts are convinced by the Cooper’s Ferry findings. John Hoffecker, a fellow at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, contends that the dating has been exaggerated, arguing that the earliest confirmed human activity at the site is closer to 15,000 years ago. He also disputes the proposed link to Japan, noting that genetic and dental evidence does not support a direct lineage from ancient Japanese populations.
Ben Potter, professor of archaeology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, went further, calling the findings “superficial and unconvincing.” According to Potter, the study does not provide solid evidence against the ice corridor migration model, nor does it definitively prove an earlier presence.
Despite these critiques, both scholars agree that the findings add a compelling dimension to the broader debate over early human migration. Hoffecker, for one, concedes that the new evidence lends support to the idea of a Pacific coastal migration, a theory that has gained traction in recent decades.
Native History and Cultural Significance of Cooper’s Ferry
Long before modern archaeologists arrived, the region around Cooper’s Ferry was known to the Nez Perce (Niimíipuu) people as Nipéhe, an ancient village. Oral histories passed down through generations have described the area as a significant cultural and spiritual location. These new findings align, in part, with Indigenous accounts of long-standing occupation, adding a layer of ethnohistorical context to the scientific narrative.
The blending of archaeological science with Indigenous knowledge systems provides a richer, more multifaceted view of the past. While debates about exact dates and migration routes continue, there is growing recognition of the deep antiquity and complexity of human presence on the North American continent.
BOISE, Idaho — Idaho lawmakers have introduced legislation that would phase out state funding for the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs while keeping the commission in place.
The proposal, introduced by Rep. Jeff Ehlers, would gradually eliminate general fund support for the commission by July 1, 2028. The commission would continue to operate but would need to rely on private funding.
Rep. Ehlers told the House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Thursday that the proposal came from recommendations by Idaho’s DOGE Task Force, which reviewed government programs and spending.
READ MORE | Idaho DOGE Task Force recommends defunding Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs
The bill would also eliminate the commission from a list of organizations eligible for a state income tax charitable contribution credit.
Rep. Steve Berch questioned why the legislation would remove both state funding and the tax credit option, saying it could make it more difficult for the commission to raise money.
“I hate to use this word, but I’m really offended by this specific effort to make it that much more difficult for private citizens to be able to contribute to the Hispanic commission,” Rep. Berch said in committee. “I don’t think this can be justified from a financial point of view, and quite frankly, I don’t think it can be justified from a moral point of view.”
In response, Rep. Jason Monks said that it would be more “offensive” to not allow further discussion of the bill before a final decision is made.
The proposal comes after an earlier attempt this session to eliminate the commission entirely. In January, Rep. Heather Scott presented a draft bill that would have removed all references to the commission from Idaho law and dissolved it by July 1, but that measure failed to advance out of committee.
The committee ultimately voted on Thursday to introduce the legislation, allowing it to be printed and advanced for further debate.
This story has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Shanea Fulks is the owner of Seven Sisters Closet Revival, a new consignment store at 260 South Woodruff in Idaho Falls. Take a look inside in the video above. | Rett Nelson, EastIdahoNews.com
Do you want to know what’s happening in the eastern Idaho business scene? We’ve got you covered. Here is a rundown of this week’s business news across the valley.
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IDAHO FALLS
New consignment shop in Idaho Falls offers vintage clothes for customers and booth space for sellers
IDAHO FALLS – Curating vintage clothing is Shanea Fulks’s passion, and she’s sharing it with the community through a new business venture.
Seven Sisters Closet Revival opens Saturday at 260 South Woodruff inside Parkwood Plaza in Idaho Falls. It offers racks of vintage clothes for customers and booth space for others to sell their items.
“You get a rack with shelves, and you can come in throughout the week and sell things,” Fulks tells EastIdahoNews.com. “The things you’ll see in the middle of the store are pieces that I have curated. I hand-pick all the things I bring to the store.”
See some of the items in the video above.
Fulks says she’s had multiple people walk in already who are excited about the shop.
The store will have a grand opening this weekend. Fulks is partnering with the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting and open house at noon on Friday. A local band will be performing during the event.
Then on Saturday, a grand opening celebration will begin at 2 p.m. Several vendors and live entertainment will be available. Fulks says she’s looking forward to interacting with the community.
Fulks has been selling items from her personal collection online for years. After helping a mother and daughter find a formal dress during an interaction at another shop in town several years ago, Fulks says she realized there was a need for a store like this.
After about a year of working with real estate agents, Fulks says the Parkwood Plaza space formerly occupied by a beauty salon called Blush became available, and it was an ideal fit.
“It’s just been a whirlwind and we’re just trying to get it going,” says Fulks.
Fulks’ interest in fashion stems back to childhood. She lost her dad and stepdad to suicide at a young age and grew up in a household that struggled to make ends meet. As a result, she says they bought clothes at Goodwill and other secondhand stores.
She remembers being made fun of because of the clothes she wore. In time, she learned to embrace her uniqueness and developed an interest in vintage clothes.
“I’ve just always been attracted to old sweaters, military jackets (her dad served in Vietnam),” Fulks says. “I like to help people feel confident wearing something unique, even if it’s not trendy. Be bold and wear whatever you want.”
The idea of making the most of your circumstances and embracing who you are is inspired by her experience with suicide, and it’s reflected in the art that’s on display in her store.
“Part of the theme in my store is ‘Stay. We need you,’” she says.
The business name refers to her family. She comes from a blended family of six girls and four boys. When she and her husband were married, they had a daughter — the seventh sister.
Fulks says she’s looking forward to offering great deals to customers. She has two sons with autism who love art, and she wants to host art-themed events for people with special needs. She’d also like to host tea parties and other events in the future.
“I want people to come and feel like they belong,” she says. “I’m going to allow people to do karaoke. When you’re here, I want you to feel like you can have fun.”
Seven Sisters Closet Revival will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
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Gov. Brad Little has signed House Bill 533, which would remove the need for license plate stickers on Idaho vehicles.
The legislation, introduced earlier this session by Rep. Jon Weber (R) of Boise, eliminates the requirement for registration stickers on Idaho license plates. Weber stated during the bills intorduction that officers can verify the status of license plates without the stickers, potentially saving the state around $300,000.
During the bill’s introduction, some lawmakers argued that it could increase the workload for law enforcement.
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The new law is set to take effect in July.
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