NOVA: First Face of America (2018)

Thirteen millennia ago, a fragile, undernourished teenager stumbled, plunging a hundred feet into the belly of a secluded cavern in Mexico's Yucatán. The cave, later swallowed by the encroaching seas, was sealed from the world until 2007, when a group of explorers unearthed a nearly intact skeleton from its depths. This extraordinary discovery unveils the young girl as one of the earliest known human inhabitants in the Americas. But what chain of events led her to journey deep into this colossal subterranean world? From where did her lineage trace, and why does her appearance starkly contrast with contemporary Native Americans? "NOVA: First Face of America" embarks on a riveting journey, from the awe-inspiring caverns of Mexico to the untamed expanses of the Yukon, from the intricate labyrinth of genetics to the cutting-edge sphere of forensics. The film weaves together a tapestry of tantalizing clues that rewrite the narrative of the enigmatic first settlers who dared to tread on this continent. Their forgotten tale, lost in the sands of time, is waiting to be told, echoing from the depths of the ancient caves to the frontlines of modern science.

NOVA: First Face of America is a documentary movie featuring Jay O. Sanders and directed by Graham Townsley.

NOVA: First Face of America is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.