Variation in Fluted-point Technology: Investigations across Space and Time

ABSTRACT

The transmission of Clovis fluted-point technology, the earliest well-dated fluted point industry, is considered to have led to regional variants of point forms as a result of cultural drift and founder effects as Paleoindian groups dispersed throughout the Western Hemisphere and adapted to local ecological settings. The papers collected in this volume present recent research and perspectives of a group of archaeologists focusing on regional variation in fluted-point morphology and technology and their relationships to neighboring forms, both spatially and chronologically, as well as the methodology used to examine evidence of their historical development and origin.

KEYWORDS:

• Fluted points
• technological variation
• Paleoindian
• late Pleistocene
• North America

Acknowledgements

The authors extend our sincerest gratitude to all of the contributors of this special issue who took the time to participate in the SAA symposium and then transform those presentations into papers to share with the wider audience. We also thank Ted Goebel, Editor of PaleoAmerica, for agreeing to publish this as a special issue, for all of his assistance, and for giving us the opportunity to serve as Guest Editors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Heather L. Smith is an assistant professor of anthropology at Eastern New Mexico University. She earned her PhD at Texas A&M University, examining the spread of fluted-point technology in North America, focusing on Alaska, where she led excavations at the Serpentine fluted-point site, Bering Land Bridge National Preserve.

Jesse W. Tune is an assistant professor of anthropology at Fort Lewis College. He earned his PhD at Texas A&M University, preparing a dissertation that examined Cumberland fluted-point technology in the American Southeast. He also led excavations at the Coats-Hines mastodon site.

ORCID

Heather L. Smith http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1031-0478

Jesse W. Tune http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3679-5808