Clovis point

Overview

The Clovis point is a type of prehistoric stone tool that is closely associated with the Clovis culture, a Paleo-Indian culture that is believed to have existed around 13,000 years ago. These tools are characterized by their distinctive shape and fluting, which is a concave groove that runs along the base of the point. Clovis points are considered to be some of the oldest evidence of human activity in the Americas.

Characteristics

Clovis points are typically made from flint, chert, jasper, or other fine-grained stone materials. They are lanceolate in shape, meaning they are leaf-shaped and taper to a point. The points are bifacially worked, meaning they have been flaked on both sides to create a sharp edge. The hallmark of a Clovis point is the fluting, which is a channel or groove that extends from the base of the point towards the tip. This fluting was likely used to help attach the point to a spear shaft.

Discovery and Distribution

Clovis points were first discovered near the town of Clovis, New Mexico, in the 1920s, which is how they got their name. Since then, Clovis points have been found across much of North America, from the United States to Canada and even into parts of Mexico. The widespread distribution of Clovis points suggests that the Clovis culture was highly mobile and spread across a large area.

Significance

The discovery of Clovis points has been crucial in understanding the early human history of the Americas. They provide evidence of some of the earliest human inhabitants of the continent and their hunting practices. The Clovis culture is often associated with the hunting of large megafauna, such as mammoths and mastodons, which were prevalent during the Pleistocene epoch.

Controversies and Theories

There is ongoing debate among archaeologists about the origins of the Clovis culture and how it spread across the Americas. Some theories suggest that the Clovis people were the first to migrate into the Americas from Asia via the Bering Land Bridge, while others propose that there were pre-Clovis cultures that existed before them.

Also see

• Clovis culture
• Paleo-Indians
• Prehistoric technology
• Flintknapping
• Megafauna