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Definition of Paleo-Indian in English:

Paleo-Indian

adjective

  • Relating to or denoting the earliest human inhabitants of the Americas, from as early as 40,000 years ago to c.5000 BC.

    • ‘An explanation for the famous Mason-Quimby Line in central Michigan, north of which neither Paleo-Indian artifacts nor Pleistocene fossil vertebrates have been found, is well presented.’
    • ‘Clearly, then, the Paleo-Indian and Na-Dene migrations were separate events.’
    • ‘This material is not typical of eastern Palaeo-Indian assemblages and eight radiocarbon determinations date it to the period between 17000 and 11000 years ago.’
    • ‘Initial radiocarbon samples showed the bones to be around 9,500 years old, proving the skeleton to be of Paleo-Indian age, and one of the oldest prehistoric individuals to be found in North America.’
    • ‘This kind of settlement is associated with the Palaeolithic period of the Old World, and the Paleo-Indian period of the New.’

noun

  • 1The Paleo-Indian culture or period.

  • 2A member of the Paleo-Indian peoples.

    • ‘It was called so because the land which has become the state of Indiana, was once occupied by Paleo-Indians 10-12 thousand years ago.’
    • ‘Palaeo-Indians are defined by their use of a fluted style of spear point.’
    • ‘This is exactly the time when humans (Paleo-Indians) colonized North America, and their arrival and skill as hunters at that time is documented by the appearance of artifacts.’
    • ‘About 11000 years ago Palaeo-Indians arrived in this area.’

Pronunciation:

Paleo-Indian

/ˌpāliōˈindiən/