Clovis points on flakes: A technological variation seen in long distance lithic transport

Abstract

Both experimental and refitting studies have contributed to our current understanding of Clovis point production. Most Clovis points are manufactured through a series of biface regularization and thinning processes leading to a preform, which in the final stage results in a finished projectile point. However, not all points follow this production process and these atypical examples are identified by preserving evidence of the original flake blank on and of their faces. Such points are relatively rare in the archaeological record. A sample of Clovis points from the central Great Plains is analyzed to determine the frequency and significance of points manufactured on flake blanks. The origin of the raw material for the two subsets of points is also investigated and this shows that as the distance from the lithic source increases, more Clovis projectile points are manufactured on flakes with little additional retouch. This suggests that Clovis points on flakes represent a technological strategy in the central Great Plains focused on lithic conservation where flakes are substituted for bifacial preforms as a way to maximize the utility of raw material from distant sources.

Keywords:

• Paleoindian
• Clovis
• lithic technology
• mobility
• points on flakes