What is the most ancient artifact ever found in the USA?

Question

What is the most ancient artifact ever found in the USA?

Answer 1

Though this may not technically answer your question, the oldest human skeletal remains along with tools, found in North America, have been carbon-dated to 28,000 years before present time, which would correspond with the earliest possible crossing (from Asia) on the first Bering Ice Bridge, which formed during an Ice Age, 32,000 years ago...

The reason it doesn't exactly answer your question, is because these remains were found along the Gulf Coast, just over the border, in Modern-day Mexico, which is part of North America...

Answer 2

You, of course, can get a textbook answer but realize that there is alot that cannot be explained.  Experts do not always agree and what you find in a text book may be found inaccurate the next day.  Textbooks present that which is most agreed on but other information that may exist, which  disputes that information, is overlooked and that may be happening in this case.

Answer 3

Try the "Clovis point" from the Clovis New Mexico area of the Southwest. More then several have been found dating to about 14,000 years present.

Answer 4

Whatever they dug up at Meadowcroft rockshelter.  It's a site in southwestern Pennsylvania, 'bout 30 to 40 miles from Pittsburgh.  The generally agreed upon dates are from about 11,000-13,000 years ago.  Adovasio, guy who headed the dig, also got some from 16,000 years ago and maybe even 19,000 years ago.  There's a h**l of a lot that can go wrong taking c-14 samples, which is why archaeologists always take as many as they can, but from all accounts, Adovasio's pretty anal about this stuff, so who knows?

They've found stone tools, hearths, and biological debris like seeds, plant bits, and evidence of the processing of animals.  They also found ceramics, but I'm guessing that stuff'd be made later than the earliest things; clay pots don't survive well in our soil, and I don't think pottery was invented in the Americas until much later.