Clovis Culture of Native Americans
The Clovis culture represents a pivotal chapter in the prehistory of North America, offering a glimpse into the lives and adaptations of the continent’s earliest inhabitants. Named after the distinctive stone tools discovered near Clovis, New Mexico, in the 1920s and 1930s, this culture has captivated archaeologists and historians alike, sparking ongoing debates and research into the peopling of the Americas.
The Discovery and Significance of Clovis Tools
The story of the Clovis culture begins with the unearthing of unique stone tools in the vicinity of Clovis and Portales, New Mexico. In 1932, archaeologist Edgar Howard unearthed a remarkable stone tool alongside mammoth bones at an archaeological site. This discovery provided tangible evidence of an ancient culture in North America that predated previously accepted timelines of human occupation on the continent.
The artifact discovered by Howard, later known as the "Clovis point," proved to be a game-changer. Prior to this discovery, accurately dating spear points posed a significant challenge. However, Howard’s finding of a Clovis point embedded in the ribcage of a mammoth provided a crucial breakthrough. The bones could be scientifically dated, offering a reliable timeframe for the existence of the Clovis culture.
The excavation in New Mexico continued until 1937, and the Blackwater Locality No. 1 archaeological site became a focal point for scientific investigations conducted by academic institutions and organizations from across the country. Today, the 3,200-acre Anderson Basin district surrounding Blackwater Draw in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, is owned and managed by Eastern New Mexico University. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The Blackwater Draw Museum, located on the Eastern New Mexico University campus in Portales, houses artifacts collected from the site and displays materials from other collections owned by the university.
The Clovis point, typically around four inches in length, is meticulously crafted from materials like flint, jasper, chert, and obsidian. Its defining feature is the concave grooves, or "flutes," that run down each side, coupled with sharp edges and a lance-shaped tip. These points served as projectile points, likely attached to spears or darts, and were instrumental in hunting large game.
Following the initial discovery in New Mexico, numerous other Clovis sites have been identified throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, and even extending into northern South America.
Dating the Clovis Culture
Estimates initially placed the Clovis culture between 13,500 BC and 11,000 BC, coinciding with the end of the last glacial period. However, recent research conducted by Texas A&M researchers suggests a more refined timeframe. In October 2020, they announced that new testing indicated that Clovis tools were manufactured within a narrower window of approximately 300 years, spanning from 13,050 to 12,750 years ago.
Lifestyle and Subsistence
The Clovis people were skilled hunters, with a primary focus on large game animals. Mammoths were a significant target, along with other now-extinct megafauna such as bison, mastodons, gomphotheres, sloths, tapirs, camels, and horses. Their hunting prowess played a crucial role in their survival and expansion across the landscape.
In addition to hunting, the Clovis people were also gatherers, supplementing their diets with edible seeds, nuts, plant roots, and fishing. This mixed subsistence strategy allowed them to adapt to varying environmental conditions and exploit a range of resources.
The End of the Clovis Culture
The Clovis culture eventually gave way to several more localized regional societies, marking a shift in cultural and technological adaptations. This transition is believed to have been triggered by a period of climatic change that led to a decline in large animal populations and a less mobile society.
The "cold shock," as it has been termed, lasted for approximately 1,500 years and had widespread effects across the globe, including North America. During this period, the distinctive Clovis-style fluted points were replaced by other fluted-point traditions, such as the Folsom culture.
Origins and Ancestry
Genetic and linguistic studies of modern Native Americans suggest that the Clovis people originated from Siberia and Mongolia. The discovery of a human skeleton, a one-year-old boy found in Anzick, Montana, provided further support for this theory. The boy’s DNA was found to be of Siberian descent, linking the Clovis people to populations in Asia.
Like other Paleoindians, the Clovis people likely crossed the Bering Land Bridge, which once connected Siberia and Alaska, and gradually spread across North America. Despite extensive searches, similar stone tools have not been found in Siberia or Mongolia, leading to the conclusion that the Clovis point was a unique innovation of the Clovis people in North America.
Challenging the "Clovis First" Theory
For many years, the Clovis people were considered the first human inhabitants of North America and the creators of a widespread culture in the New World. However, this "Clovis First" theory has been challenged by a number of archaeological discoveries, including sites such as Cactus Hill in Virginia, Paisley Caves in Oregon, the Topper site in South Carolina, Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Pennsylvania, the Friedkin site in Texas, and two sites in Chile, South America, that may date back as far as 30,000 years.
The oldest Clovis site in North America is El Fin del Mundo in northwestern Sonora, Mexico, dating back to 11,330 BC. The Aubrey site in Denton County, Texas, produced an almost identical radiocarbon date.
Legacy
Despite the ongoing debates and discoveries, the Clovis culture remains a significant chapter in the prehistory of North America. More than 10,000 Clovis points have been found in 1,500 locations throughout most of North America, from southern Canada to Central America. All of them date simultaneously with the oldest points found in Texas.
The Clovis culture irrevocably changed Native American life in a short period, and the Clovis people are considered the ancestors of many of the indigenous cultures of the Americas today. Their legacy continues to inspire research and exploration, shedding light on the early human presence in North America.