Stone Age New York

unusual Clovis Point

fluting runs from base to tip

ear is fluted on both sides

          While Clovis and Clovis-related fluted points are important and represent the first known Native American culture in New York State, the majority of fluted points found here were made by the descendents of Clovis people living in this area as well as other post-Clovis cultures that could have migrated to western New York. Archaeologists would want to know the context of fluted points manufactured by non-Clovis cultures in their relationship to Clovis points. What other types and styles of fluted points are in the archaeological record? Who made them? What engineering principals were used in their manufacturing techniques? What advantages did these points have over the earlier Clovis points in the context of hunting prey?

          In the archaeological record, the Clovis period is followed by the Folsom. Most Folsom Points found in New York are not true Folsom points, but rather Folsomoid or Folsom-related. Folsom points are rare, but fluted points from the Folsom period are not. This blog will now present examples of paleoindian fluted stone artifacts that are representative of the majority of fluted points found in New York, non-Clovis fluted points.

          In the first photo is a rare seven-sided Clovis Fluted Point. The shape is another example of Clovis form that is not lanceolate. The second point shown is "flame" or "leaf" shape, and has a flute from base to tip. The last point has a fluted base with an extended or flaring "ear". There is a ridge that runs along the length of the artifact, and the "ear" is fluted on the reverse side as well. Flared ear fluted points exist in New York in fairly large numbers compared to Clovis points.

Stone point curves to left

Stone point curves to right

Stone point with fluted tip

          In their quest to find ways to make hunting prey more efficient, Clovis stone tool makers developed weapon points that produced larger and deadlier wounds. By curving the tips of their weapon points, a speartip would do more damage by changing directions after initial entry. Further, the projectile would be less likely fo fall back out of the wound than a straight lanceolate point would, thus making it much more difficult for the hunted animal to shed the weapon point and escape.

          The two curved points shown here are different sizes, and curve in different directions, the smaller point to the left, and the larger one to the right. Their fluted base allows hafting to a spear shaft, and identifies them as Clovis or Clovis related.

          Lastly, there is the fluted tip weapon point. These unusual points are fluted at the tip instead of the base. The fluting is angled in two directions where it meets the unfluted base. By fluting the tip instead of the base, the projectile is thinner and has less resistance at the point of entry. This produces a deeper wound than a point with a fluted base.

          Clovis weapon points were engineered to produce maximum damage and give stone age hunters as much of an advantage as possible during a hunt. Questions arise as to how long it took to advance the evolution of weapon points from lanceolate to curved, and how this idea was spread to other weapon point makers over a large area, in a short period of time, when the only form of communication was word of mouth.

Large Stone Fluted Point

stone fluted point

side view

          Many websites that focus on Clovis Fluted Points, and other Clovis artifacts, fail to examine the larger inventory of Clovis artifacts carved from stone. Fortunately, Clovis peoples manufactured points made of stone that offer a glimpse into their world. Clovis stone tool makers that lived in western New York eleven millennia ago made stone weapon points of at least three different styles.

          In addition to the rare lanceolate Clovis Fluted Point made from fine Chalcedony, Clovis people made a stone point which features a raised fluted base which flattens to a sharp point at the tip of the artifact. In some points of this style there is also a ridge that runs from the raised base to the tip. These points were manufactured in different sizes, three of which are shown here.

          The first example is a large stone fluted point that has a ridge of short length that runs from the fluted base to the tip. Far too large to be hafted to a spear shaft, it may have a ceremonial purpose. The second artifact has a raised beveled base, but no ridge. The side view of the artifact is sharp and rounded for cutting and slicing. The side view reveals how thin the blade is apart from the raised base. The third point is much smaller than the other two, and also has a ridge that runs from the beveled base to the tip. This small weapon point was probably used to hunt smaller game.

          Clovis and later paleoindians that lived in western New York had a manufacturing process that produced weapon point styles of standardized shapes which featured designs that were efficient at killing prey.