By 2021, the Buhl date had circulated in the archaeological literature for more than two decades as evidence relevant to one of the most contested questions in American archaeology.

It had been cited, discussed, debated, and included in synthetic reviews of early human chronology across western North America.

And now a careful reassessment was raising the possibility that the date — the single most important piece of quantitative evidence from the burial — might not be what it appeared.

This is the moment in the story where the mystery deepens rather than resolves.

The Clovis First model had already been substantially challenged by 2021, primarily by the evidence from sites like Monte Verde in Chile, Paisley Caves in Oregon, Cooper’s Ferry in Idaho, and others that produced dates substantially predating 13,000 calibrated years ago.