But when two independent methods, using entirely different types of data and entirely different analytical approaches, produce results that are broadly consistent with each other, the confidence that the historical picture they are both reflecting is genuine increases substantially.

This is the standard scientific logic of consilience — the idea that agreement between independent lines of evidence is stronger confirmation of a hypothesis than any single line of evidence alone could provide.

The Bluefish Caves archaeological evidence and the genetic models of Beringian population history are not just individually consistent with the Beringian standstill hypothesis; their convergence provides the strongest current support for that hypothesis.

Why the Yukon Matters to South America