Stone Age New York

Beveled with fluted tip

Stands on Base

Front View

First Standing Position

Second Standing Position

          Fluted points found in western New York are of different varieties and origins. Besides the Clovis Fluted Point which is lanceolate shaped, there is another weapon point made by early hunter-gatherers that is manufactured in at least three different shapes. The flared ear fluted point has an extended base or "ear" that effectively widens the wound of the weapon point as it enters the body of prey. These points are lanceolate, triangular and even roughly chevron in shape. Some are beveled, with a resulting ridge that runs the length of the artifact. Being neither a Clovis or Folsom point, they were, nonetheless, manufactured during the paleoindian period.

          Flared Ear Point, with fluted tip. This point is beveled, with a ridge that runs the length of the artifact.

          Flared Ear Point, similar to first, but triangular in shape. This point stands balanced when placed on its base.

          Triangular Flared Ear Point, shown flat and standing. This point interestingly has a double surface base which allows the artifact to stand in two positions, shown here. Its maker demonstrates a highly developed knowledge of physics and lithic reduction technique to develop a point that has this balancing ability. The center of gravity has to be exact to keep the artifact from falling over.

Genesee Clovis Point

Triangular

Clovis Heart

Pentagonal point made of flint

          This cache of Clovis artifacts from the valley of the Genesee is representative of point styles used by Clovis hunters in this region of New York State eleven millenia ago. All artifacts are made from Onondoga flint. The base of three of the points have different width ears of which one is narrower than the other. Interestingly, the appearance of the base is similar to the image of the head and tail of a bird. This bird-like image is most apparent in the outline of the Curved Clovis Point.

          Photo of Genesee River Clovis Fluted Point. This point is a knife as opposed to a spearhead, and the flute serves as a thumb grip. Engineered to comfortably fit in the user's hand, it is capable of making precision cuts. It may have been made for a left handed owner.

          Clovis Fluted Triangular Point. This weapon point has ears of varying width and a fluted base.

          Clovis Curved Point. Concave fluted base with wide and narrow ears.

          Clovis Fluted Pentagonal Point. Concave fluted base, partially removed ear forms pentagonal and narrow base ear. Use as a weapon point.

          Clovis Points courtesy of Spiritwalker.  

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.