Relating Thick-Bodied Points to Old-Clovis Points

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Relating Thick-Bodied Points to Old-Clovis Points

• John Garrett
• 9/30/10
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These slides are part of ongoing investigation on
the technologies, relationships, and sequences of
the earliest projectile point forms in western
North America. The purpose is to examine known
technological forms that could possibly be
ancestral to Clovis. Given the theory that the
human populations in North America that developed
the Clovis point and other PaleoIndian lithics
came from the northwest via Beringia, it stands
to reason there should be more similarities
between the earliest far-western US point forms
and whatever immediately preceded, and possibly
led to, Clovis, than in other regions. The
following is an attempt to explore these possible
relationships. It is based principally on outer
dimensions for width and thickness as well as
outline shape. The comparison of different early
point styles from the western US to each other as
well as the Alaskan Mesa and Sluiceway point
styles is key. The western point examples used
include Haskett and Clovis, or Clovis-like, from
the Great Basin and one Clovis-like point from
Blackwater Draw, New Mexico.
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• The theory as it stands is based on the following
  premises
• Clovis evolved from thick body point styles.
• The early thick body point styles include Mesa,
  Haskett, Agate Basin, and likely El Jobo.
• Some thick body point styles persisted on after
  Clovis.
• There are two distinct Clovis styles one early
  (thick) and one late (thin.)
• Many early, or thick, Clovis points are actually
  concavely rebased Haskett or Agate Basin points.
• Haskett points from the far west and northwest
  are separate and distinct from other western
  stemmed points such as Lake Mojave.
• Clovis points form the far west and northwest are
  separate and distinct from the Blackrock Concave
  Base series.
• What is clear is that remarkable similarities
  exist between Haskett, Agate Basin, Mesa, and
  some Clovis point forms from the Great Basin as
  well as at least one Blackwater Draw Clovis
  point.

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This analysis represents the beginning of an
attempt to understand a possible scenario and
investigate possible theories. It is preliminary
and subject to significant changes as more
becomes understood. Nomenclature used for the
artifacts depicted on the following slides
include convex-base Haskett points (CVX) from the
southern and central Great Basin, one point from
Blackwater Draw (BWD,) one Mesa point, and three
Clovis-like points (CL) from the southern and
central Great Basin. The term Clovis-like is
intentional to avoid the confusion commonly
encountered in identifying western Clovis points
due to variability which this analysis hopefully
begins to address. The Blackwater Draw and Mesa
points depicted are photos of plastic casts.
The starting point in these slides is to
compare and contrast point forms that have
roughly the same W/T ratios to investigate other
similarities. Statistical distributions of values
is found elsewhere. The slides contain many
animations. Using the space bar, mouse click, or
up/down arrows (slowly) progress through the
slides and animations.
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All points on these slides are depicted at true
relative scale unless marked otherwise
CVX-eo L 177 mm W 35 mm T 11 mm W/T 3.18
BWD L 51.5 mm W 23.2 mm T 7.6 mm W/T 3.05
CVX-022 W 24.4 mm T 8.1 mm W/T 3.00
CVX-021 W 27.9 mm T 9.4 mm W/T 2.97
CL-003 L 54.1 mm W 27.4 mm T 7.9 mm W/T
3.48
CVX-068 L 78.7 mm W 20.0 mm T 8.4 mm W/T
2.39
Mesa L 67.0 mm W 25.4 mm T 8.9 mm W/T 2.85
CL-001 L 44.2 mm W 20.8 mm T 6.6 mm W/T
3.15
CL-005 W 29.2 mm T 8.6 mm W/T 3.38
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CVX-eo L 177 mm W 35 mm T 11 mm W/T 3.18
CL-003 L 54.1 mm W 27.4 mm T 7.9 mm W/T
3.48
Approx 27.4 mm
The sequences on slides 6 and 7 compare a very
large Haskett point that was recovered in two
pieces to a complete Clovis point that was almost
certainly refurbished from a much larger point.
Widest Point of Haskett 35 mm
Not a perfect fit- Possibly an unrelated Late
Clovis point??
Also possible This Clovis point shows slight hint
of diagonal Outré Passé flaking though Not
typical for Haskett
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CVX-eo L 177 mm W 35 mm T 11 mm W/T 3.18
Better, but the dimensions still arent perfect
If the Clovis was the same width as the Haskett
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CVX-eo L 177 mm W 35 mm T 11 mm W/T 3.18
CL-005 W 29.2 mm T 8.6 mm W/T 3.38
Possible
Slide 8 compares the same Haskett point to a
proximal end of a Thick Clovis-like point. The
points are shown with a true relative scale. The
W/T ratios are very close.
Close fit at an expected location
CL-005 was XRF-sourced to the Coso Volcanic
Field, CA Dec, 2009
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CVX-eo L 177 mm W 35 mm T 11 mm W/T 3.18
CL-001 L 44.2 mm W 20.8 mm T 6.6 mm W/T
3.15
Approx 20.8 mm
Slide 9 compares another Thick Clovis-like point
with the large Haskett. The two have virtually
identical W/T ratios. This point is possibly a
refurbished proximal base that was turned
around.
Maybe
Approx 20.8 mm
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CL-005 W/T3.38
CVX-021 W/T2.97
CVX-022 W/T3.00
The Great Basin thinned point has similarities to
Alaskan Mesa Points and fits nicely with the
Hasketts
Slide 10 compares two Haskett bases with a thick
Clovis-like base and the Mesa point
CVX-021 was XRF-sourced to Obsidian Butte,
NV Dec, 2009
CVX-022 was was XRF-sourced to Tempiute Mtn, NV
Dec, 2009
Mesa W/T2.85
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CL-001 W/T3.15
Slide 11 compares the Blackwater Draw point with
a Thick Clovis and a large Haskett base
BWD W/T3.05
They both appear to be heavily reworked but from
opposite ends
Or, They were both worked from the same end but
in opposite directions
CVX-021 W/T2.97
CVX-021 W/T2.97
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Slide 12 explores similarities between the
Blackwater Draw point (red) and the other Great
Basin and Alaskan points
W/T3.05
CVX-068 W/T2.39
W/T2.97
W/T3.00
W/T2.85
W/T3.18
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Alaska Mesa/Sluiceway Point
They both appear to be derived from the same form
W/T2.85
Nevada Haskett Points
W/T3.00
Slide 13 shows similarities between the Mesa
point and two Haskett points of different overall
size
CVX-068 was was XRF-sourced to Saline Range 1,
CA Dec, 2009
W/T2.39
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Slide 14 shows the wide range in size Hasketts
come in
Actual Size
Actual Size
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Slide 15 shows similar Breakpoints of the
artifacts
All Three were broken at the Same Place
Due to similar hafting methods or sockets??