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.
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