Stone Age New York

          A pair of flint tools, handaxe and smaller knife. Both artifacts evident similar flaking stye. Curved stone culture lived in the Genesee Valley, perhaps as its original human inhabitants at the close of the Wisconsin. Curved artifacts are more common than lanceolate ones in this part of New York State. What does this mean? Were lanceolate and curved artifacts produced at the same time, by the same people, or could one culture be older than the other? If there were two or more cultures co-existing, did those cultures originate from different locales?

          Curved stone weapon technology is an advanced form of artifact engineering that had to of evolved. As its practioners made their weapon points deadlier in order to better perfect their hunting skills, stone tool makers incorporated sophisticated weapon technology into their hunting arsenal.

          Photo 1: Brown flint handaxe and small blue flint knife. Front view.

          Photo 2: Curved flint tools, dorsal side.

          Set of three, stone Clovis/Clovis related tools. Tools display different fluting strategies which allow each to perform its own specific function. Tool on left is a combination knife and hammer. Fluted base serves as a thumbgrip. Entire tool fits comfortably in hand with knife blade conveniently located next to hammer surface on left side. An excellent example of tool engineering based on the lanceolate Clovis Point typology style.

          Middle tool is a beveled adze with fluted tip. depression on base also serves as a thumbgrip. Heavy duty tool is perfect for wood working. Balanced artifact makes storing and locating tool simple.

          Tool on right is an adze/gouger. Artifact features four layers of fluting, terminating in blade at tip. Multi-layer fluting removes wood in layers thus speeding up the woodworking process. Such tools would have been prized possessions of a stone age carpenter who built canoes and building structures.

          Photo: Paleo stone tools. Left and center artifacts are balanced on end. All artifacts approximately 2-3/4 inches in length.

          This pair of curved flint tools is further proof of the existence of Clovis curved stone culture in western New York State. Clovis toolmakers produced artifacts of extraordinary beauty and versatility that rivaled those made by later Archaic and Woodland period cultures. Although most of the Clovis artifacts we find are made of stone, a few, such as these are made from flint. 

        Clovis toolmakers learned early on that chert is easier to knap than stone and quickly became the material of choice for weapon points, scrapers, drills as well as other chipped implements. Indeed, the very finest tools were made of this easily worked material. Exotic colored forms of chalcedony were often quarried from a central location and passed from hand to hand over thousands of miles to provide a high quality resource for toolmakers in areas where flint was much less readily available. Along with valuable chalcedony and obsidian, other commodities were distributed continent wide as well, not the least of which was knowledge. This priceless commodity would explain why there appears to be a "cultural standardization" of tools from coast to coast during this long ago era.

          Photo 1: Small Clovis curved flint knife, fluted.

          Photo 2: Clovis curved flint knife, fluted.

          We predicted that these curved fluted points made of flint were out there, and although they do not appear in any point typology books, we went out and found them. The first point features a curved stem that curls 90 degrees to the side. The second point also has an angled stem as well. This curved stem technology allows the projectile point to change directiions after entering prey and thus produces a deadlier wound. Curved stems are virtually non-existent in later Archaic and Woodland projectile points in New York.

          These curved stem points are as beautiful and well engineered as any later projectile points. They are proof that Clovis/Clovis related projectile point makers were as advanced as any later stone tool producing cultures in weapon point technology. Ice Age weapon point makers may have invented deadly curved point technology to give themselves an edge when hunting Ice Age megafauna.

          Both curved points are from the Spiritwalker collection.

          Photo 1: Clovis curved projectile point.

          Photo 2: Point rotated 90 degrees to show possible hafted position.

          Photo 3: Second curved projectile point.

          Photo 4: Point rotated 90 degrees.

          In this picture of the Middle Falls at Letchworth State Park a rainbow can be seen in the mist from the falls. On the canyon wall is a large dark image created by the mist that points downstream. This lovely place on the Genesee River is home to countless ceremonies performed over thousands of years.

          This balanced curved stone artifact, with a pick on one end and a grinding surface on the other is very similar in shape to the image on the canyon wall, including a broad base, similar curved angle and fluted tip, visible in both the artifact and the image.

          Photo 1: Base of Middle Falls, Letchworth State Park.

          Photo 2: Curved stone artifact, dorsal side.

          Photo 3: Curved stone artifact, front.