Changes

'''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, this took place between 12,000 to 20,000 years ago.{{fact}} 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.

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, this took place between 12,000 to 20,000 years ago.{{fact}}  

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. However, the oldest American skeleton is dated at 9300 year old [[Kennewick Man]] that is physically dissimilar to modern American Indians, was said at first to be unlike present day Native Americans. However further research has demonstrated that this is not the case.  

 

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>

==References==  

==References==  

- http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1169905,00.html

<references/>

==See Also==

==See Also==