A VISIT TO THE CLOVIS SITE

July 2019

Keywords: Clovis culture, Folsom culture, Paleoindians, Texas Archaeology, Texas Social Studies, paleolithic, megafauna, Clovis points, Atl-atl

Entrance to the Clovis archaeological site between the towns of Portales and Clovis, in New Mexico.

  

In 2014, 2015 and 2016, I visited many archaeological sites located in the "four corner" states and Texas, but non older than 3,000 years before our time. After several years of anticipation, an opportunity appeared that allowed me to take a detour and spend some time at the archaeological site where the original Clovis Culture discovery was made.The Clovis site is a landmark case in the history of archaeological research in the Americas. It opened to the scientific community the hidden facts of human presence in the New World that turned out to be older than had been suspected or proven. 

The site is still active and serves as a field laboratory for the students of Eastern New Mexico State University school of Anthropology. The university administers the historic site and on-site exhibit, and the more formal museum located in its campus a few miles away.

The site is a natural depression where a water hole of extended permanency existed for thousands of years. On a map, the area is part of the ancient watershed of the Brazos River. In modern times, part of it was used as a quarry. This exposed side shows the sedimentary geology of the area.

 A meandering trail winds down from the rim - the prairie floor- to the excavated basin. Several metal buildings have permanent exhibits open to the public. The larger one has the restored original site, with all the different soil horizons and archaeological layers found. The artifacts were preserved on site.Other sheds and tarps protect on-going research.

Another view of the rim from an excavated location

The historic site covers a circle about one quarter mile in diameter. A casual visit to the site may take a couple of hours. If you are lucky to find one of the docents on-site, they will show you the areas where current excavations are on-going. If work is in progress, the visit may turn into volunteering for the rest of the day.

A partial view of the protected site

The Clovis culture is a prehistoric  paleo-Indian culture, named for distinct stone tools found in close association with the late Ice-age megafauna at Blackwater Draw, between Portales and Clovis, New Mexico, in the 1920s and 1930s. 

The initial dating estimated the age of the artifacts and animal remains to be around 11,500–11,000 years before present. That has been revised with modern technology to be closer to 13,000 years.

The distinctive lithic and ivory tools found are characterized by the manufacture of "Clovis points". These are considered to be the first American continent's technology, and differ from those produced in other parts of the world. The cache of this site spans many centuries and is mixed with a variety of the megafauna characteristic of the end of the last Ice age.

Panoramic view of the Clovis Culture archaeological site, now under cover
Notice the different layers and bones in situ. Artifacts found are at the museum

Another view of the excavation site

Labels indicating the geology, age and lithic finds at different horizons of the site

Clovis long spear and atl-atl short fleched spear points found at the Clovis site.  Notice the characteristic
fluting at the base. This allowed a firmly secured point when attached to the spear shaft.

Fossilized Mammoth femur 5' high

The atl-atl is a spear thrower that allowed the hunter to propel the weapon from a distance farther than the normal spear. It is a precursor of the bow and arrow.  The atl-atl technology has been found around the world and dating as far back as 50,000 years. This weapon is evidence of the cultural connection to the Asian hunters.  The Clovis innovation is in the fluting of the lithic points.  The video that follows illustrate its use and effectiveness.  The atl-atl was still in use among the nahuatl tribes of central Mexico when the Europeans arrived. The word atl-atl is from the nahuatl language. 

Skulls and jaws of buffalo

Megafauna, a top of a skull of Bison Antiquus,
the ancestor of the modern buffalo, about 50% taller

Fossilized Columbian Mammoth tusk

Fossilized remains of Columbian Mammoth and mastodon
The Clovis horizon corresponds to these megafauna

Once the Clovis find was accepted by the archaeological establishment, it became an icon and was solemnly declared to be the site of "the first Americans". This vision was proudly defended until recently, even as numerous other sites began to be discovered or reclassified as being part of the same culture. After some decades, the map of the Clovis culture sites made it obvious that Clovis was only the first to be found. It is not the oldest either. More than that, the evidence points to a very large geographic area covered by these migrating people. Clovis sites have been now found all the way down in Central America. It appears that the name has a very narrow scope and perhaps it needs to be revisited. 

The Clovis culture became part of a still on-going controversy.  The archaeological establishment from the United States has been blinded by the iconic pride that the Clovis find generated. It was generally accepted that there could be no site older that the Clovis sites, now re-dated to 13,000 before the present. Since the 1930's, archaeological research throughout the continent has uncovered many other sites that pre-date Clovis.  Some claim dates as 22,000 years ago.  The following chart has the names of the most famous finds. Some are still involved in dating controversy.

Regardless of the details, it is evident now that the "First Americans" probably came much earlier that originally thought. If  they were in eastern South America more than 20,000 years ago, when did they cross through the Beringia land bridge?  It is also possible to admit other routes, and maybe even other origins. Even multiple migrations at different points between periods of glaciation.  It is also now accepted that when the glacial process intensifies, the ocean level drops. Some estimate it to be as much as 300 feet below the present. That would mean that all the logical sites of the easiest routes following the shoreline are underwater. 

In spite of the controversies, and the apparent loss of importance of the original Clovis site in New Mexico, my visit was a sort of pilgrimage, an almost quasi-religious experience to render homage to our first New World ancestors.