Clovis points are the characteristically fluted projectile points associated with the New World Clovis culture, a prehistoric Paleo-American culture. They are present in dense concentrations across much of North America and they are largely restricted to the north of South America. There are slight differences in points found in the Eastern United States bringing them to sometimes be called "Clovis-like". Clovis points date to the Early Paleoindian period, with all known points dating from roughly 13,400–12,700 years ago. As an example, Clovis remains at the Murry Springs Site date to around 12,900 calendar years ago. Clovis fluted points are named after the city of Clovis, New Mexico, where examples were first found in 1929 by Ridgely Whiteman.
Clovis point, 11500–9000 BC, Sevier County, Utah, chert
Clovis points from the Rummells-Maske Cache Site, Iowa
Clovis spearpoints collected in 1807 at Bone Lick, Kentucky
Flint-knapping demonstration
In archaeological terminology, a projectile point is an object that was hafted to a weapon that was capable of being thrown or projected, such as a javelin, dart, or arrow. They are thus different from weapons presumed to have been kept in the hand, such as knives, spears, axes, hammers, and maces.
Standard projectile point terminology used in describing Native American projectile points: a - point or tip, b-edge, c- blade or face, d - step, e - tang, f - base, g - notch, h - barb, i - shoulder.
Prehistoric Native American projectile points from York County, Pennsylvania.
A collection of stone projectile points from North America.
A knapped flint arrowhead.