McKinnis Cache biface with edge-to-edge flake removal.

CAST #P-96

BIFACE
McKINNIS CLOVIS CACHE
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION COLLECTION
COPYRIGHT AUGUST 31, 2011 PETER A. BOSTROM

CAST ILLUSTRATED
CAST #P-96
EARLY STAGE BIFACE
McKINNIS CLOVIS CACHE
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI

This early stage biface represents one of the 11 bifaces (see McKinnis cache) that were discovered during a land leveling operation in St. Louis County, Missouri. It's an early stage biface that illustrates "classic" Clovis flake removal scars. This biface is most impressive for its edge-to-edge or "outre passe" style of flaking. One side has a large edge-to-edge flake scar that removed 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) of the opposite edge. This is a lithic technology that was no longer traditionally used in post-Clovis cultures. The intended purpose for this early stage preform was probably to make a fluted point. This biface is made of Burlington chert and measures 4 5/16 inches (11 cm) long, 1 11/16 inches (4.3 cm) wide and 7/16 inch (1.1 cm) wide.
It's generally accepted that fluting is an American invention and the technology must have developed from a pre-Clovis people who were not fluting. One possible explanation for a paradigm shift towards a fluted point technology might have been the incentive to use a different flintknapping technique. This fundamental change might have developed from a desire to utilize large high quality cherts and chalcedony that became available in the New World for the production of very large biface cores. If, for instance, a knapper changed his technique from just using a billet and punch to a rocker punch technique (see Dothager), the difference in flake removal control might begin to produce a completely different type of projectile point. The indirect rocker punch technique allows the knapper to remove, with less effort, very large flakes across the face of very large bifaces and to remove the flakes from any side, end and corner angle. This edge-to-edge style of flaking does not appear as a tradition in post-Clovis cultures and it's a good bet that the technique probably won't appear in a very early pre-Clovis culture.

THE McKINNIS CACHE SITE

The McKinnis cache was discovered in 1996 on land that was being leveled for houses. The cache contained 11 bifaces and 12 core blades. The site is located on a hill top within 2 miles of the Missouri River in St. Louis County, Missouri. This cache was made with stone tool manufacturing technology that relates to the Clovis culture. The largest artifact in the cache is a basally thinned late stage Clovis point preform. A base of a Clovis point was also found near this cache.

ORIGINAL ARTIFACT ILLUSTRATED
EARLY STAGE BIFACE
VIEW OF OVER SHOT FLAKE
McKINNIS CLOVIS CACHE
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI

This picture shows a close-up view of the over shot percussion flake scar on the biface pictured above. This is an excellent example of a Clovis technology break pattern that is often found on Clovis camp and manufacturing sites. Over shot flakes are referred to as either edge-to-edge or "outre passe" types of flake removals. This flintknapping technique represents an important diagnostic element of Clovis stone tool manufacturing technology. These unique and fairly rare types of flake removals help archaeologists identify Clovis sites. This biface is made of Burlington chert and it measures 4 5/16 inches (11 cm) long, 1 11/16 inches (4.3 cm) wide and 7/16 inch (1.1 cm) wide.