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'''American Indians''' are the descendants of the inhabitants of [[North America|North]] and [[South America]] before the coming of [[Europe]]ans in 1492. As an ethnic group, they are indigenous to the Americas.  

'''American Indians''' are the descendants of the inhabitants of [[North America|North]] and [[South America]] before the coming of [[Europe]]ans in 1492. As an ethnic group, they are indigenous to the Americas.  

They are believed to have descended from [[Asia|Asians]] who crossed the [[Bering Straight|Bering land bridge]] during the last [[Ice Age]].  According to evolutionary theory and radiocarbon dating, this took place as early as 20,000 years ago.<ref>TIME - Who Were The First Americans?, By MICHAEL D. LEMONICK, ANDREA DORFMAN, Sunday, Mar. 05, 2006  [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1169905,00.html]</ref>  

They are believed to have descended from [[Asia|Asians]] who crossed the [[Bering Straight|Bering land bridge]] during the last [[Ice Age]].  According to evolutionary theory and radiocarbon dating, this took place as early as 20,000 years ago.<ref name="who">TIME - Who Were The First Americans?, By MICHAEL D. LEMONICK, ANDREA DORFMAN, Sunday, Mar. 05, 2006  [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1169905,00.html]</ref>  

Those who are only partly descended from those early inhabitants are still considered American Indians if they maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment. However, each Native tribe or band makes its own rulings regarding membership.

Those who are only partly descended from those early inhabitants are still considered American Indians if they maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment. However, each Native tribe or band makes its own rulings regarding membership.

Some American Indians prefer to be called [[Native American]]s in order to distinguish themselves from the people of [[India]], and to imply that they were the original inhabitants of North America. The oldest American skeleton is [[Kennewick Man]], found in 1996 and judged by radiocarbon dating to be over 9000 years old. Kennewick Man was at first said to be unlike present day Native Americans. However further research has demonstrated that this is not the case. <ref>TIME - Who Were The First Americans?, By MICHAEL D. LEMONICK, ANDREA DORFMAN, Sunday, Mar. 05, 2006  [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1169905,00.html]</ref>

Some American Indians prefer to be called [[Native American]]s in order to distinguish themselves from the people of [[India]], and to imply that they were the original inhabitants of North America. The oldest American skeleton is [[Kennewick Man]], found in 1996 and judged by radiocarbon dating to be over 9000 years old. Kennewick Man was at first said to be unlike present day Native Americans. However further research has demonstrated that this is not the case. <ref name="Who" />

 

==References==  

==References==  

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