The Myth and Reality of Crossings: Native American Perspectives on the Bering Land Bridge

Frederick Maris

Historically, the Bering Land Bridge theory presents an intriguing narrative of human migration. However, the historical and cultural perspectives of Native American historians offer a nuanced understanding of how ancient populations moved across this land bridge. This paper explores the knowledge and beliefs of Native American historians regarding the Bering Land Bridge, contrasting it with the idea of ancient European crossings via the glacier ice during the last Ice Age.

Understanding Hunter-Gatherer Movements

The idea that hunter-gatherer societies ventured into new territories, potentially through a land bridge, is a fascinating area of study. Dr. Frederick Maris, a distinguished Native American historian, posits that these populations did not cross a vast land bridge as much as they looked for new hunting grounds. He suggests that their movements were constrained by their ability to travel limited distances (around 160 km per generation), driven primarily by the need to find game rather than crossing between continents. Their tools and resources undoubtedly played a significant role in these movements, guiding their decisions on where to locate their communities.

Maris offers a pragmatic insight, stating, 'Hunter-gatherers venturing into unpopulated territory probably only travelled about 160 km/generation. They weren’t crossing a land bridge they were harvesting game.'

Historical and Cultural Implications

According to Maris, there are no Native American origin stories or oral histories that mention a crossing via a vast land in the north and west, followed by movement south and east. The last possible crossing before the submersion of Beringia occurred around 10,000 years ago, which aligns with the timeframe of human habitation in the Americas. It is unsurprising, then, that there are no detailed family stories or oral traditions that date back to that time. Similarly, in other regions such as Africa and Eurasia, the oldest origin stories are also relatively recent, often autochthonous or ascribed to divine interventions.

A notable exploration of oral history shows that ancient cultures had remarkable memory. Dr. Maris recalls, 'I remember reading about oral histories where events from long ago were told in poems and were remembered for much longer than I would have expected, though nothing goes back that far. This underscores the resilience and durability of cultural memory, yet it remains a challenge to trace ancient events beyond the reach of oral traditions.'

Exploring Flood Myths

Flood myths, prevalent across many cultures, provide an interesting cross-cultural analysis. Dr. Maris explains that these myths can be understood without invoking a global flood. A widely accepted hypothesis suggests that ancient flood myths can be explained by localized events such as the rapid desertification of the Sahara. He theorizes that the Garden of Eden stories, which depict a lush and paradisiacal environment, might have some connection to the sudden changes in the Sahara region. He states, 'We were there a long time, we liked it, and it changed very quickly. It may have happened in as little as one or two generations. People would have noticed and been upset. They would have wondered who they pissed off, and a vengeful god was a perfectly reasonable explanation at the time.'

However, it is also important to note that the Bering Land Bridge theory extends far beyond the scope of flood myths. Maris concludes by emphasizing, 'The land bridge goes back twice as far, and they would have had no idea they were moving between continents but would have noticed that no one else was there. This highlights the fundamental difference between the Bering Land Bridge and the flood myths in terms of time and context.'

Dr. Maris's research delves into the intricate details of Native American perspectives on human migration through the Bering Land Bridge, providing valuable insights into the historical and cultural contexts of these events. His work is a compelling reminder of the complexity and richness of oral traditions and the evolving understanding of human migration theories.