Reassessing the Quaternary: Human Migration, Megafaunal Collapse, and the Timing of Fossil Deposits in the Americas

The timing of the extinction of megafauna and the arrival of the first humans in the Americas continues to be a hot topic in discussions about the Quaternary. These debates are fundamental to understanding not only the dynamics of Quaternary ecosystems but also the role of humans as potential agents of ecological change. Recently published dates of fossils of large mammals collected in North and South America, together with chronological information from archaeological records, have brought new perspectives and sometimes conflicting interpretations to this discussion. The contrasting evidence highlights the need for deeper examination of the synchronicity—or lack thereof—between human dispersal, climatic fluctuations, and faunal extinctions.

Given these ongoing debates, the creation of a dedicated forum to centralize and foster discussions on Mammal Paleontology in the Americas is timely and relevant. The primary goal of this Research Topic is to provide a platform where researchers can integrate new findings, compare methodologies, and critically evaluate interpretations related to megafaunal extinctions and human presence in the Americas. By focusing particularly on the geochronology of fossil deposits and the nature of human–megafauna interactions, this initiative aims to leverage recent publications and data to refine our understanding of Quaternary paleoecology and human history on the continent.

This Research Topic welcomes contributions that address key aspects of Quaternary mammalian paleontology and archaeology in the Americas, with emphasis on chronological, paleoenvironmental, and anthropological perspectives. We encourage authors to submit manuscripts dealing with, but not limited to, the following themes:

(a) The timing of the arrival of humans in the Americas, including new archaeological evidence, dating methods, and models of migration;

(b) The forms and timing of human–megafauna interactions, ranging from hunting evidence to indirect ecological impacts, supported by archaeological, isotopic, or taphonomic data;

c) The geochronology of fossil deposits containing Quaternary mammals, with particular attention to methodological advances in dating techniques and their implications for regional and continental-scale chronologies;

d) The paleoenvironmental context associated with human dispersal and megafaunal extinction events, including paleoclimatic reconstructions, vegetation dynamics, and environmental proxies.

Submissions may include original research articles, reviews, methodological papers, or syntheses of regional data that contribute to the broader discussion. Interdisciplinary approaches that integrate paleontology, archaeology, geochronology, and paleoenvironmental sciences are particularly welcome, as they can offer comprehensive insights into the complex processes that shaped Quaternary biotic and cultural landscapes in the Americas.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Taphonomy, Paleoecology, Quaternary, Archeology, Paleontology, Ecological interactions

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.