Clovis Lifeways Set in Stone: The Contribution of Fluted-Point Morphological Variation

ABSTRACT Over the past century, researchers have found variation in fluted-point shape and size to be patterned in the Americas. Many of these patterns can be organized by geographical, ecological, and behavioral variables, and have helped formulate our current understanding of some of the earliest cultures to live in the Western Hemisphere. This paper reviews how researchers have assessed patterns in Clovis point morphological variability over the last three decades and discusses types of data used to formulate and test hypotheses concerning how Clovis peoples moved or transmitted cultural information across the landscape, organized, manufactured, and used fluted-point technology, and related to later Paleoindian groups. It concludes by summarizing the contribution studies of Clovis-point form have made to our understanding of Clovis adaptation as part of a greater body evidence that includes genetics, faunal and botanical remains, toolstone characterization, assemblage structure, site formation processes, and paleoenvironmental data.