14-A,14-B,14-C,14-D
CLOVIS IVORY POINTS
AUCILLA RIVER FLORIDA
HUGH LILLIOT COLLECTION

   These Ivory Spear fragments and one complete example were all found in the Aucilla River in northwest Florida and are thought to be early Paleo-Indian and probably once belonged to the Clovis culture.
   The complete Spear is slightly bowed following the natural curvature of the mammoth or mastodon tusk from which it was cut. The tapered end is engraved or "roughened" with several criss-cross lines that would help hold the hafting materials such as mastic (glue) and sinew to whatever it was attached to. Scuba divers have retrieved a large number of fragments of ivory points from Florida rivers and limestone sinkholes. This is one of a few complete and nearly complete examples so far discovered.
   It is hypothesized that ivory points may have tipped lances and were used to bag large game, perhaps delivering a final wound.

Two broken ivory spear points showing cross hatching.
 

Clovis ivory spear points from Florida River.

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