Folsom point

The Folsom point is a distinct type of projectile point associated with the Paleo-Indians of North America. These artifacts are named after the Folsom site near Folsom, New Mexico, where they were first discovered in 1927. Folsom points are a hallmark of the Folsom tradition, which dates from approximately 10,000 to 8,000 BCE.

Description

Folsom points are characterized by their unique fluted shape, which includes a central groove or "flute" that extends from the base to about halfway up the point. This fluting technique was likely used to facilitate hafting the point onto a spear shaft. The points are typically made from high-quality materials such as chert, flint, or jasper, which were carefully knapped to create a thin, symmetrical, and sharp-edged tool.

Discovery and Significance

The discovery of Folsom points was pivotal in the study of North American prehistory. In 1927, archaeologist Jesse Figgins uncovered a Folsom point embedded in the rib cage of an extinct Bison antiquus at the Folsom site. This find provided the first conclusive evidence that humans had inhabited North America during the Pleistocene epoch, coexisting with now-extinct megafauna.

Distribution

Folsom points have been found across a wide area of the central and western United States, from the Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains. Their distribution suggests a highly mobile lifestyle, with groups of Paleo-Indians following herds of bison and other game animals across vast distances.

Manufacturing Technique

The production of Folsom points required advanced flintknapping skills. The process involved the careful removal of flakes from a stone core to create a bifacially worked point. The distinctive flute was created by striking a flake from the base of the point, a technique that required precision and skill to avoid breaking the point.

Cultural Context

Folsom points are associated with the Folsom culture, a group of Paleo-Indians who were primarily hunter-gatherers. They are believed to have lived in small, mobile bands, relying on hunting large game such as bison, as well as gathering plant resources. The Folsom culture is considered a successor to the earlier Clovis culture, which also produced fluted projectile points.

Also see

• Clovis point
• Paleo-Indians
• Bison antiquus
• Flintknapping
• Pleistocene