Clovis

Name: The Clovis point was named from examples found associated with extinct animal remains near Clovis, New Mexico.

 Age: The Clovis complex is considered to date between 11,500 and 10,900 radiocarbon years BP. John Whatley[1] pointed out that “steeple shaped” examples are thought to date to the latter part of the Clovis period as a transitional step toward Dalton points.

 Description: Clovis points are characterized by their lanceolate form, concave basal edge and the characteristic flutes (figures 1-3) often running more than half the length of the blade (figure 5). Clovis points are medium to large in size, ranging between 49mm to 179mm (2 to 7 inches) in length.  Unfluted forms are also known to exist (figure 8). The basal edge and sides of the halfting area are rubbed smooth and the flaking style is often overshot, causing the flake scars to extend well beyond the mid point of the blade.  The overshot flaking gives the cross section of the blade a flattened appearance.  The blade edges have uniform pressure flaking from the hafting area to the distal end.  While the basal edge is normally concave, flat basal edges are known to exist (figure 6) and the fluting flake is taken from the flat edge.  Paleoindian blades like the Clovis are rarely heat treated, however Coastal Plains chert worked better after heat treating and at least two examples of this technology are known to exist on these very early blades (figure 8).

 Distribution: Clovis points, found in association with Georgia’s river systems, are rare in comparison to other Southeastern states. A survey of Paleoindian points conducted over the past several years contained less than three hundred Clovis points.

[1] Whatley, John S., An Overview of Georgia Projectile Points And Selected Cutting Tools, Early Georgia, The Society For Georgia Archaeology, Volume 30, Number 1, April 2002. P.24