The fire areas—or hearths—of the California Channel Islands, especially Santa Rosa Island, may be the oldest evidence of man in the Americas. The brick-red fire areas, dated at more than 40,000 years to 10,000 years ago, often contain charred mammoth bone and, rarely, possible stone tools.
Though some of the fire areas may be hearths, recent research indicates that natural fires produce similar fire areas. Burned tree stumps and roots can redden the adjacent soil and resemble hearths. It is likely that most of the Pleistocene fire areas were caused by burned vegetation.
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