[hanamizu]

The fact that the “oldest city in the Americas” is in South America seems to lend credence to the theory that the PaleoIndians used boats to travel down the west coast rather than trudging on foot. There’s a spot in Panama that’s nearly impossible to cross on foot today.

[SunkenCiv]

Good catch.

[21twelve]

The Haida tribe up in SE Alaska were known for their large canoes. They traveled as far as California in them.

[Cronos]

The fact that the “oldest city in the Americas” is in South America seems to lend credence to the theory that the PaleoIndians used boats to travel down the west coast rather than trudging on foot.

I don't think so.

A city i.e. settlement would be formed when

1. there is a religious reason OR
2. There is farmland/animal husbandry areas nearby and people want to band together OR
3. both

AFAIK, north America was more amenable to hunter-gatherers so less need for cities until later, right?

But the boat travel from N to S makes sense