Ancient Transport Technology Discovered at White Sands National Park!

A groundbreaking discovery at White Sands National Park in New Mexico has shed new light on how prehistoric humans transported heavy loads over 20,000 years ago. Archaeologists have uncovered drag marks alongside ancient human footprints, providing the earliest known evidence of primitive transport technology in North America—thousands of years before the invention of the wheel.

Photo Credit: Bournemouth University

The Oldest Known Transport Device?

The research, led by Professor Matthew Bennett from Bournemouth University and published in Quaternary Science Advances, documents a series of drag marks preserved in dried mud and later covered by sediment. These markings are believed to have been left by a travois—a simple transport device consisting of two wooden poles tied together at one end. Indigenous groups across North America used the travois for centuries, and this new discovery suggests that the technology dates back far earlier than previously thought.

Professor Bennett explained, “We know that our earliest ancestors must have used some form of transport to carry their belongings as they migrated, but any wooden vehicles they may have used would have rotted away over time. These drag marks provide the first physical evidence of how they moved heavy and bulky loads before the wheel was invented.”

Photo Credit: Gabriel Ugueto / Bournemouth University

What Do the Drag Marks Reveal?

The tracks vary in length, with some stretching up to 50 metres (165 feet). Researchers identified two main types: a single line from two poles joined at one end, and two parallel lines created by an X-shaped travois. Footprints alongside the marks indicate that humans, rather than animals, pulled these loads. Interestingly, children's footprints were often found nearby, suggesting that prehistoric families travelled together much as they do today, with children walking alongside the adults.

Professor Bennett likened the scene to a familiar modern-day image: “Many people will recognise the experience of pushing a shopping trolley around a supermarket, moving from place to place with children hanging on. This appears to be the ancient equivalent—just without wheels.”

Testing the Theory

To verify their findings, the research team constructed replicas of a travois and dragged them across mudflats in Dorset, UK, and along the Maine coast in the United States. The patterns left in the mud closely matched the fossilised drag marks discovered at White Sands, supporting their hypothesis that early humans used this technology to transport goods.

Photo Credit: Bournemouth University

A Deeper Look at Early Human Migration

Dr Sally Reynolds, a co-author of the study and a palaeontologist at Bournemouth University, highlighted the significance of these findings: “Every discovery at White Sands enhances our understanding of the first settlers in the Americas. These people were the original migrants to North America, and uncovering details about how they moved is key to telling their story.”

The presence of the travois adds to growing evidence that humans arrived in North America much earlier than traditionally believed. Previous studies at White Sands have revealed human footprints dating back 23,000 years, challenging the long-held view that humans first entered the continent around 15,000 years ago. While some experts continue to debate these timelines, the evidence for early transport technology remains compelling.

A Testament to Human Ingenuity

The findings at White Sands highlight the resourcefulness of prehistoric humans, who devised efficient ways to move heavy loads long before the advent of wheels or domesticated animals for labour. As more discoveries emerge, it becomes increasingly clear that early humans were far more innovative than we once assumed, continually adapting to their environments and developing practical solutions for survival.

This latest research is not just a glimpse into the past but a testament to human ingenuity—showing that even tens of thousands of years ago, our ancestors were already pioneering ways to make life easier.