{"id":14949,"date":"2026-07-23T19:24:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T14:24:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=14949"},"modified":"2026-07-23T19:24:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T14:24:28","slug":"mysterious-discovery-made-in-the-mojave-desert-could-change-our-understanding-of-ancient-american-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=14949","title":{"rendered":"Mysterious Discovery Made In The Mojave Desert Could Change Our Understanding Of Ancient American History"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Deep beneath the sands of <b>California\u2019s Mojave Desert<\/b>, a retired <b>insurance salesman<\/b> may have uncovered something that <b>archaeologists<\/b> probably overlooked for generations.<\/p>\n<p><b>Richard Dempsey<\/b> is a retired insurance salesman from Long Beach.<\/p>\n<p>But his passion for <b>digging<\/b> may have led to a discovery that redefines what experts know about prehistoric art.<\/p>\n<h3>A retired insurance salesman may have uncovered something that archaeologists probably overlooked for generations<\/h3>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"463857498_8904775916219579_5803741744084792541_n-6a620da4b2dab__700\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?image_id=463857498_8904775916219579_5803741744084792541_n-6a620da4b2dab__700.jpg\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Mysterious Discovery Made In The Mojave Desert Could Change Our Understanding Of Ancient American History\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?media_id=463857498_8904775916219579_5803741744084792541_n-6a620da4b2dab__700\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/463857498_8904775916219579_5803741744084792541_n-6a620da4b2dab__700.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/463857498_8904775916219579_5803741744084792541_n-6a620da4b2dab__700.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"700\" alt=\"A man proudly holds a mysterious discovery, a large dark rock, reflecting an ancient American history.\" title=\"A man proudly holds a mysterious discovery, a large dark rock, reflecting an ancient American history.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo\/?fbid=771270566236862&amp;set=a.289444917752765\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Richard Dempsey<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Richard Dempsey said he discovered thousands of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/boy-broke-canaan-jar-artifact-hecht-museum-haifa\/\" class=\" staff-link\">unusual stone objects<\/a> that are not ordinary Stone Age tools (such as arrowheads or scrapers) but are quite possibly intentional works of symbolic art.<\/p>\n<p>It was almost six years ago when the amateur archeologist first identified \u201cpreviously unobserved and unknown\u201d Paleolithic artifacts and decided to call them Paleo Story Stones.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPaleo\u201d refers to the Paleolithic Era (\u201cOld Stone Age\u201d), when early humans used stone tools and began developing symbolic expression.<\/p>\n<p>This era began 3.3 million years ago and ended around 10,000 BCE.<\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"pexels-brett-buskirk-70981875-33172431-6a620dae91ba7__700\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?image_id=pexels-brett-buskirk-70981875-33172431-6a620dae91ba7__700.jpg\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Mysterious Discovery Made In The Mojave Desert Could Change Our Understanding Of Ancient American History\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?media_id=pexels-brett-buskirk-70981875-33172431-6a620dae91ba7__700\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/pexels-brett-buskirk-70981875-33172431-6a620dae91ba7__700.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/pexels-brett-buskirk-70981875-33172431-6a620dae91ba7__700.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"566\" alt=\"The Mojave Desert landscape with rugged rocks and sparse vegetation, hinting at ancient American history.\" title=\"The Mojave Desert landscape with rugged rocks and sparse vegetation, hinting at ancient American history.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/desert-landscape-in-joshua-tree-national-park-33172431\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Brett Buskirk\/Pexels (not an actual photo)<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Back in October 2020, Dempsey was surveying Paleolithic sites along the ancient shoreline of Pleistocene Lake Manix.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s when he noticed something that he believes was \u201coverlooked\u201d by \u201cgenerations of collectors, archaeologists, and geologists.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dempsey noticed patterns on the flaked stone objects that appeared to resemble recognizable figures.<\/p>\n<h3>Richard Dempsey said he discovered thousands of unusual stone objects that seem like intentional works of symbolic art<\/h3>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"485614154_9805345682829260_5197980968263599767_n-6a620dd4840e5__700\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?image_id=485614154_9805345682829260_5197980968263599767_n-6a620dd4840e5__700.jpg\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Mysterious Discovery Made In The Mojave Desert Could Change Our Understanding Of Ancient American History\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?media_id=485614154_9805345682829260_5197980968263599767_n-6a620dd4840e5__700\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/485614154_9805345682829260_5197980968263599767_n-6a620dd4840e5__700.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/485614154_9805345682829260_5197980968263599767_n-6a620dd4840e5__700.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"898\" alt=\"A hand holds a translucent, light blue, rough-edged object, a mysterious discovery from ancient American history.\" title=\"A hand holds a translucent, light blue, rough-edged object, a mysterious discovery from ancient American history.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo.php?fbid=5126210804076128&amp;set=pb.100000617770323.-2207520000&amp;type=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Richard Dempsey<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The artifacts did not seem like ordinary Stone Age tools, but carefully shaped objects featuring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/new-christopher-columbus-dna-analysis-threatens-rewrite-history-books\/\" class=\" staff-link\">images of humans and mammoths<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCertain flaked stone artifacts consistently displayed recognizable images of young and old human faces alongside juvenile and mature mammoths,\u201d according to a press release.<\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"502926512_24095614206709169_3912200956796782623_n-6a620dd6377e7__700\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?image_id=502926512_24095614206709169_3912200956796782623_n-6a620dd6377e7__700.jpg\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Mysterious Discovery Made In The Mojave Desert Could Change Our Understanding Of Ancient American History\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?media_id=502926512_24095614206709169_3912200956796782623_n-6a620dd6377e7__700\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/502926512_24095614206709169_3912200956796782623_n-6a620dd6377e7__700.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/502926512_24095614206709169_3912200956796782623_n-6a620dd6377e7__700.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"643\" alt=\"A hand holds a yellowish, translucent, irregularly shaped object, a mysterious discovery from ancient American history.\" title=\"A hand holds a yellowish, translucent, irregularly shaped object, a mysterious discovery from ancient American history.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo.php?fbid=7489987181031800&amp;set=pb.100000617770323.-2207520000&amp;type=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Richard Dempsey<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMore remarkably, the same visual patterns appeared repeatedly on artifacts made from completely different materials and recovered from widely separated locations,\u201d the message continued.<\/p>\n<p>Dempsey believes they could be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/antiques-roadshow-expert-refuses-to-value-relic-from-awful-business-of-slave-trade\/\" class=\" staff-link\">evidence of prehistoric storytelling<\/a>, which still remains unknown to today\u2019s archaeologists.<\/p>\n<p class=\"video-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Paleo Crystal EtchingTools?\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jnTIqluP1N8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Over the years, he has gathered together thousands of similar artifacts made from a variety of materials like jasper, chert, quartz crystal, citrine, rose quartz, obsidian, volcanic glass, meteorites, fossil coral, bone, antler, and so on.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, these artifacts have been found across all continents, except for Antarctica.<\/p>\n<h3>These artifacts have been found across six continents, with only Antarctica being an exception<\/h3>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"Untitled-1-6a620ddbcb8aa__700\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?image_id=Untitled-1-6a620ddbcb8aa__700.jpg\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Mysterious Discovery Made In The Mojave Desert Could Change Our Understanding Of Ancient American History\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?media_id=Untitled-1-6a620ddbcb8aa__700\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Untitled-1-6a620ddbcb8aa__700.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Untitled-1-6a620ddbcb8aa__700.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"543\" alt=\"A hand holding a clear, blue-tinted, irregularly shaped glass object, part of a mysterious Mojave Desert discovery.\" title=\"A hand holding a clear, blue-tinted, irregularly shaped glass object, part of a mysterious Mojave Desert discovery.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PFMMbvnJLWE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">AntiquitiesoftheAmericas<\/a><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"2080190770250932451-png__700\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?image_id=2080190770250932451-png__700.jpg\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Mysterious Discovery Made In The Mojave Desert Could Change Our Understanding Of Ancient American History\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?media_id=2080190770250932451-png__700\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2080190770250932451-png__700.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2080190770250932451-png__700.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"287\" alt=\"A tweet by John Lee about stopping funding for pointless projects, referencing the Mojave Desert discovery.\" title=\"A tweet by John Lee about stopping funding for pointless projects, referencing the Mojave Desert discovery.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/VulcanJoker\/status\/2080190770250932451?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">VulcanJoker<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Dempsey said the recurring imagery on the artifacts follows a \u201cremarkably consistent pattern,\u201d irrespective of the \u201cgeography or material.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnlike conventional projectile points or scrapers, these objects were intentionally shaped around their outer edges to create symbolic imagery,\u201d explained the press release.<\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"514401567_24375615185375735_7126014459184956996_n-6a620de00bc70__700\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?image_id=514401567_24375615185375735_7126014459184956996_n-6a620de00bc70__700.jpg\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Mysterious Discovery Made In The Mojave Desert Could Change Our Understanding Of Ancient American History\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?media_id=514401567_24375615185375735_7126014459184956996_n-6a620de00bc70__700\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/514401567_24375615185375735_7126014459184956996_n-6a620de00bc70__700.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/514401567_24375615185375735_7126014459184956996_n-6a620de00bc70__700.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"540\" alt=\"A large, irregularly shaped blue-green glass object on a blue surface, found in the Mojave Desert.\" title=\"A large, irregularly shaped blue-green glass object on a blue surface, found in the Mojave Desert.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo.php?fbid=9544407578923073&amp;set=pb.100000617770323.-2207520000&amp;type=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Richard Dempsey<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMany also display fine engraving, grooving, and smoothing that Dempsey argues were previously unrecognized elements of flaked stone Paleolithic craftsmanship.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Dempsey\u2019s work challenges the idea that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/alien-life-signs-detected-on-planet-120-lightyears-from-earth\/\" class=\" staff-link\">early humans were merely<\/a> toolmakers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"2-6a620de70e4b1__700\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?image_id=2-6a620de70e4b1__700.jpg\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Mysterious Discovery Made In The Mojave Desert Could Change Our Understanding Of Ancient American History\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?media_id=2-6a620de70e4b1__700\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-6a620de70e4b1__700.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-6a620de70e4b1__700.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"543\" alt=\"Two views of a dark, obsidian-like ancient American artifact, held in a hand, discovered in the Mojave Desert.\" title=\"Two views of a dark, obsidian-like ancient American artifact, held in a hand, discovered in the Mojave Desert.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PFMMbvnJLWE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">AntiquitiesoftheAmericas<\/a><\/p>\n<p>It suggests that people from the Paleolithic era, regardless of the geographical region they were living in, may have had a shared symbolic artistic tradition \u201cspanning most of the globe for hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions of years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRather than viewing early humans primarily as toolmakers, the evidence raises the possibility that they were also accomplished artists, storytellers and symbolic thinkers who encoded recurring imagery into the very tools and offerings they created,\u201d his research concluded.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"post-desktop-ad-within-content post-ads margin-left\"><span class=\"dfp-ad\"><span><span class=\"pg-ad-label\">ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Instead of viewing \u201cearly humans primarily as toolmakers,\u201d Dempsey\u2019s evidence suggests they were \u201cartists, storytellers and symbolic thinkers\u201d<\/h3>\n<p class=\"attachment-link-container shareable-image-block\" id=\"pexels-rinoadamo-34921108-6a620dec3e811__700\" data-href=\"http:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?image_id=pexels-rinoadamo-34921108-6a620dec3e811__700.jpg\"><a class=\"web-share-button list-item-share new-share-experiment\" data-location=\"single-post-image\" data-title=\"Mysterious Discovery Made In The Mojave Desert Could Change Our Understanding Of Ancient American History\" data-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/archeologist-richard-dempsey-mysterious-discovery-mojave-desert-ancient-american-history\/?media_id=pexels-rinoadamo-34921108-6a620dec3e811__700\" data-image=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/pexels-rinoadamo-34921108-6a620dec3e811__700.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i><svg class=\"svg-icon icon-share-icon\" role=\"img\" height=\"16\" width=\"16\" viewbox=\"0 0 16 16\"><path d=\"M0 15C0 10.8824 5.22292 10.0588 8.79817 10.0588V14.1765L15.7006 8.23061C15.7941 8.15345 15.8695 8.05559 15.9213 7.94441C15.9731 7.83323 16 7.71155 16 7.58824C16 7.46492 15.9731 7.34314 15.9213 7.23196C15.8695 7.12078 15.7941 7.02302 15.7006 6.94586L8.79817 1V5.11765C2.3995 5.11765 0 9.76235 0 15Z\"\/><\/svg><\/i><\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/pexels-rinoadamo-34921108-6a620dec3e811__700.jpg\" width=\"700\" height=\"536\" alt=\"A vast landscape of the Mojave Desert with scattered cacti under a partly cloudy sky, hinting at ancient American history.\" title=\"A vast landscape of the Mojave Desert with scattered cacti under a partly cloudy sky, hinting at ancient American history.\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"post-content-media-source\">Image credits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/desert-landscape-with-cholla-cactus-in-the-united-states-34921108\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Rino Adamo\/Pexels (not an actual photo)<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The earliest widely accepted examples of prehistoric art include cave paintings, engravings and carvings found at archaeological sites around the world.<\/p>\n<p>Researchers have long <a href=\"https:\/\/www.boredpanda.com\/bizarre-medical-mysteries-catapulted-people-into-news\/\" class=\" staff-link\">studied these works<\/a> as evidence of early humans\u2019 ability to tell stories and communicate ideas beyond basic survival.<\/p>\n<p>Dempsey\u2019s discovery could have major implications for the study of prehistoric art and address whether the artifacts represent an overlooked slice of human creativity.<\/p>\n<p class=\"video-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Volcanic Glass Paleo Proboscidean Faces and Mammoth Effigy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Mee5evw8CHs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>His discovery has piqued the interest of many in the archaeology community, including Dr. Richard Michael Gramly, former curator at the Buffalo Museum of Science.<\/p>\n<p>Gramly documented Dempsey\u2019s work in his book <i>Guide to Palaeolithic Artifacts and Features of the Americas<\/i>.<\/p>\n<h3>Netizens shared their opinion about the discovery that could rethink the way archeologists understand early humans<\/h3>\n<div id=\"postPoll-10962075\" class=\"post-poll poll-wrapper single-post\" data-poll-viewed=\"false\" data-post-id=\"10962075\" data-main-post-id=\"\" data-poll-id=\"28850\"> <input class=\"post-10962075-poll-value\" type=\"hidden\" value=\"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\"\/> <\/p>\n<div data-bind=\"if: isInitialised()\">\n<div data-bind=\"if: !isLoading() &amp;&amp; isShowingResults\">\n<div class=\"poll-content\">\n<h3 class=\"answered-content-title\">Thanks! Check out the results:<\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"answered-content-question\" data-bind=\"text: currentQuestionText()\"\/>\n<p> <span class=\"text\">Total votes \u00b7 <\/span> <span data-bind=\"text: totalVotesFormatted\"\/> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- Newsletter --> <\/p>\n<div class=\"subscribe-to-newsletter-block-wrapper\">\n<p>Newsletter<\/p>\n<div class=\"subscribe-to-newsletter-block\">\n<p><h3 class=\"title\">Subscribe to Access <br \/>Exclusive Polls<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"right\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/boredpanda\/images\/icons\/subscription-panda.svg\" alt=\"Subscribe to Access &lt;br\/&gt; Exclusive Polls\"\/> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"disclaimer\">\n<p>By entering your email and clicking Subscribe, you&#8217;re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. 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You&#8217;ve successfully subscribed to newsletters!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- Newsletter --> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script type=\"didomi\/javascript\">\nwindow._fbSDKPromise = window._fbSDKPromise || new Promise((resolve, reject) => {\nwindow.fbAsyncInit = function () {\nFB.init({\nappId  : '887842622821495',\nversion: 'v17.0',\nstatus : true,\ncookie : true,\nxfbml  : false\n});\nresolve(FB);\n};\n\/\/ Load SDK only once\nif (!document.getElementById('facebook-jssdk')) {\nconst script = document.createElement('script');\nscript.id = 'facebook-jssdk';\nscript.async = true;\nscript.src = `https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/${BoredPanda.Config.wp_lang}\/sdk.js`;\nscript.onerror = reject;\ndocument.head.appendChild(script);\n}\n});\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Deep beneath the sands of California\u2019s Mojave Desert, a retired insurance salesman may have uncovered something that archaeologists probably overlooked for generations. Richard Dempsey is a retired insurance salesman from Long Beach. But his passion for digging may have led to a discovery that redefines what experts know about prehistoric art. A retired insurance salesman&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14950,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.boredpanda.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/fb_image_6a6210ab0c522.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14949","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14949","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14949"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14949\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14949"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14949"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14949"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}