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THE FENN CACHE
CLOVIS CULTURE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING
PAGE 1 OF 1 PAGES
COPYRIGHT MAY 31, 2012 PETER A. BOSTROM

ARTIFACTS FROM THE FENN CLOVIS CACHE

Abstract image of crystal Clovis points, Fenn cache.

ABSTRACT
THE FENN CACHE
CLOVIS CULTURE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    This article illustrates and describes a collection of Clovis artifacts that are known as the Fenn Clovis cache. The Fenn cache is reported to have been found somewhere in the border area of Utah, Idaho and Wyoming in about 1902. There are 56 artifacts in the cache. Most of them are in the form of large percussion flaked bifaces. But the collection also includes finished Clovis points, one crescent and one core blade. This report illustrates all of the artifacts in the cache, and additionally, some of the artifacts can be viewed in high resolution enlargements.

    "In 1988, 56 flaked stone artifacts attached to a large wood frame with heavy copper wire were acquired by Forrest Fenn in Santa Fe, New Mexico."--------1999, George Frison & Bruce Bradley, "The Fenn Cache: Clovis Weapons & Tools" p. 22.
    "The exact location of its discovery (the Fenn cache) is not known, but apparently came from the general area where Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah meet."------1999, George Frison, "The Late Pleistocene Prehistory of the Northwestern Plains, the Adjacent mountains, and Intermontane Basins," The Ice Age Peoples Of North America, Environments, Origins, and Adaptations, p. 272-273.
     "---we have learned that the discovery (of the Fenn cache) was made soon after the turn of the century, possibly in 1902."----1999, George Frison & Bruce Bradley, "The Fenn Cache: Clovis Weapons & Tools" p. 22.
    "The Fenn cache contained 56 ochre-covered lithic items, including projectile points, point preforms, large bifaces, a crescent, and a single blade."
---------1999, George Frison, "The Late Pleistocene Prehistory of the Northwestern Plains, the Adjacent mountains, and Intermontane Basins," The Ice Age Peoples Of North America, Environments, Origins, and Adaptations, p. 272.
    "The term cache is applied to certain forms of storage of property and in archaeology it is employed to designate more especially certain deposits of implements and other objects, mainly of stone and metal, the most noteworthy consisting of flaked flint blades and disks (bifaces)."---------1912, Frederick Webb Hodge, "Cache Discs (early stage bifaces) and blades (late/last stage bifaces)," Handbook Of American Indians North Of Mexico, part 1, p. 178.


 
THE FENN CACHE
CLOVIS CULTURE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

     The Fenn Clovis cache is both extraordinary and mysterious. The cache is extraordinary for its large size, quality of manufacture, diversity of artifact types, and for the fact that it's the only cache that has been found to contain a crescent. The cache is mysterious for the fact that no one knows exactly where or how the cache was discovered.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
ALL OF THE FENN CACHE ARTIFACTS
CLOVIS CULTURE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    This picture shows all 56 of the Fenn cache artifacts that were discovered sometime around 1902 somewhere in the border area of Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. Knowledge of the initial discovery of the Fenn  cache is reported to be "vague and ambiguous." There is no name given for the finder. One report of the discovery of the Fenn cache describes it as having been found in a cultivated field. Another account describes how it was found in a "skin bag" inside of a dry cave.
    Out of the 56 artifacts in the Fenn cache 31 of them are large percussion flaked bifaces. The largest biface (at top center) is sometimes referred to as a "platter biface," because of its large round shape, and sometimes as a biface core. This example is made of opaque Obsidian and it measures 8 5/16 inches (21.1 cm) long and 5 3/4 inches (14.5 cm) wide. The smallest biface in the Fenn cache is made of Green River Formation chert and it measures 5 5/16 inches (13.5 cm) long and 2 3/8 inches (60 cm) wide.
    The Fenn cache has more Clovis points than any other cache. Frison and Bradley identify 23 finished and unfinished Clovis points in the Fenn cache. The longest Clovis point in the cache is made of red Utah agate and measures 8 3/8 inches (21.2 cm) long and 2 1/8 inches (5.3 cm) wide. The smallest Clovis point is made of Green River Formation chert and has some impact tip damage. It measures 3 1/8 inches (7.9 cm) long.
    The Fenn cache contains one crescent which is important for the fact that it's the only known example ever found in a Clovis cache. Only one unifacial tool was found in the Fenn cache which is a typical Clovis blade that was struck from a prepared core.
    The artifacts in the Fenn cache are made of Obsidian, Green River Formation chert, red jasper, Quartz crystal, and Utah agate. The most exotic material is the Quartz crystal. Three Clovis points in this cache are made of Quartz crystal that is slightly smoky. All three of these points are described as possibly having been resharpened.
    A coating of red ochre adheres to the surface of most of the artifacts in the Fenn cache which suggests a possible ritual connection.

    The Fenn cache was named after Forrest Fenn who purchased the collection in 1988. Archaeologists first become aware of the Fenn cache later in that same year when the owner contacted George Frison at the University of Wyoming after reading about the East Wenatchee Clovis cache in the National Geographic Magazine.

Three quartz crystal Clovis points, Fenn cache.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
QUARTZ CRYSTAL CLOVIS POINTS
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

     The most exotic material in the Fenn Cache is the Quartz crystal. This material has turned up in the form of Clovis points from coast-to-coast in the United States. So for either esthetic (beautiful), or for some other reason, this glass-like material was popular among Paleo-Indian tool makers. These three Clovis points were found in the Fenn cache. They are all made from Quartz crystal that is slightly smoky. All three points are described as possibly having been resharpened. The longest point measures 4 inches (10.1 cm) long.

    Knowledge of the initial discovery of the Fenn  cache is reported to be "vague and ambiguous." There is no name given for the finder. But it's thought that the cache was discovered sometime around the turn of the century in about 1902.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
MOST SKILLFULLY CRAFTED CLOVIS POINT
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

      This Clovis point is exceptional for the craftsmanship it displays. It's most remarkable feature is the very uniform diagonal and parallel edge-to-edge flaking pattern. These flakes were removed by percussion. Some flintknappers believe this manufacturing technique was done by indirect percussion flaking. Today's most expert flintknappers would find it very difficult to duplicate this point. This type of flaking is not rare in western Clovis artifacts but it's rare to see it so uniformly done. The other remarkable feature about this point is that it's made from a blood red colored stone that is red jasper from the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming. The fact that this large Clovis point was so remarkably well crafted out of red blood colored stone similar to the color of red ochre, might suggest that its intended purpose was to be used as a "special ritual item." This Clovis point measures 6 inches (15.2 cm) long and 1 13/16 inches (4.6 cm) wide.

    One report of the discovery of the Fenn cache describes it as having been found in a cultivated field. Another account describes how it was found in a "skin bag" inside of a dry cave. Although the Fenn cache artifacts don't show any signs of damage that could be conclusively attributed to farm equipment, there have been caches found in cultivated fields that have no damage. But in fact, biface number 122 in the cache is described as, "One deep, wide flake scar is modern damage on unknown origin." So a gambler might bet on a cultivated field find. If this Clovis cache was found in a "skin bag," it would be the only Clovis cache ever found in this way. Exactly how the Fenn cache was originally discovered will probably remain a mystery.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
CLOVIS POINT
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    This picture shows a good example of a complete unbroken "classic" western style Clovis point. It was shaped with fairly uniform percussion flaking and the edges were  straightened with well done pressure flaking. It has a fairly shallow basal concavity and it's multiple fluted on both sides. Red ochre has also coated widely spaced areas on both sides. This point is made of Utah agate and it measures 4 3/16 inches (10.7 cm) long.

    Caches, as they relate to archaeology, are represented in number by two or more artifacts. The majority of these caches have been found buried in the ground. Originally, they may have been deliberately buried or they may have become buried in time by natural forces. Caches of stone artifacts have also been found in caves, rock crevices, tombs and on sacred sites where artifacts were thrown into bodies of water, such as cenotes, as offerings to important gods. Most Clovis caches seem to have been deliberately buried in the ground.


CLICK ON SEPARATE PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
CLOVIS POINTS
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    Both of these Clovis points are similar in shape and both have obvious encrusted areas of red ochre on their surfaces. The point on the left has a small portion of the tip missing that may have happened from use. It also has several large diagonal flakes removed from both sides that is a typical western Clovis percussion flaking technique. The point on the right is interesting for the several over-shot flakes that remain untrimmed along the edges. Both of these points are made of Utah agate. The point on the left measures 4 1/2 inches (11.4 cm) long and the point on the right measures 5 1/4 inches (13.3 cm) long.

    Clovis caches are usually discovered by people who were either surface collecting in cultivated fields (the Drake cache) or by people who were working on or observing construction or landscaping sites (McKinnis cache, Anzick cache, Simons cache) where large or small amounts of earth was being moved.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
CLOVIS POINT
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    This is the most unusually shaped Clovis point in the Fenn cache. It has a very deep concave base and the basal ears are rounded. Both of these traits are similar to the Colby site Clovis points. This point also has very nicely done diagonal flaking. There is an inclusion-flaw on one edge that would seem to weaken the point. The tip of the point has also been resharpened. This Clovis point was made from a material that came from a source near the Colby mammoth kill site on the western slope of the Bighorn mountains in Wyoming. It's believed that this material is from the Amsden Formation of Pennsylvania age. This point measures 5 15/16 inches (15. cm) long.

    Approximately two or more dozens of Clovis caches of various sizes and content have been discovered to date. They are rare enough to cause a strong general interest as each new cache is discovered. More and more of them seem to be reported at an ever increasing rate. One of the most recent being the Mahaffy cache that was discovered in 2008 in Boulder, Colorado during a landscaping project. This cache contains 83 bifaces and flakes that were found with a shovel in only 18 inches of earth.


CLICK ON PICTURES FOR LARGER IMAGES
CLOVIS POINTS
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    Both of these Clovis points have a small portion of one basal ear missing indicating they may have been damaged from use. The point on the left is made of Green River Formation chert and it measures 4 1/8 inches (10.5 cm) long. The point on the right is interesting for the fact that it, along with another small Clovis point in the cache, are the thinnest and both measure 1/4 inch (6.6 mm) thick. This Clovis point is made of Utah agate and it measures 3 11/16 inches (9.3 cm) long.

    The Fenn cache is impressive for its size of 56 artifacts and the fact that many of them are fairly large percussion flaked bifaces. The largest Clovis cache was found in Montana and is known as the Anzick cache. The Anzick cache contains slightly over 100 artifacts that are represented by all stages of bifaces, including finished Clovis points and bone foreshafts.


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CLOVIS POINT
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

     One of the most interesting feature of this Clovis point are the scratches in the hafting area. These surface abrasions were apparently used to help secure the point to the material it was hafted to. It's not uncommon to see basal scratches on other Obsidian Clovis points. This point is also reported to have retained some of the original amber residue in the scratches that would have acted like glue to hold it securely in place. Another interesting feature of this point are its rounded basal ears that are similar to the Colby Clovis points from the Colby mammoth kill site in north central Wyoming. This Clovis point is made of black opaque Obsidian and measures 4 3/8 inches (11 cm) long.

    Most of the artifacts that have been found in Clovis caches are in the form of percussion flaked bifaces and the Fenn cache is no exception. Out of the 56 artifacts in the cache, 31 of them are large percussion flaked bifaces. The largest biface in the Fenn cache is a type that is sometimes referred to as a "platter biface" because of its large round shape. This example is made of opaque Obsidian and it measures 8 5/16 inches (21.1 cm) long and 5 3/4 inches (14.5 cm) wide. The smallest biface in the Fenn cache is made of Green River Formation chert and it measures 5 5/16 inches (13.5 cm) long and 2 3/8 inches (60 cm) wide.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
CLOVIS POINTS
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    This picture shows the two smallest Clovis points in the Fenn cache. Both of them have the tips of their points missing from impact damage indicating they were probably being used until they were placed in the cache. They also appear to have been resharpened one or more times. The point on the left is made of Green River Formation chert and it measures 3 1/8 inches (7.9 cm) long. The point on the right is made of red Jasper possibly from northern Wyoming. It measures 3 1/4 inches (8.3 cm) long.

    Not all Clovis caches contain Clovis points. The Fenn cache is unique for having more Clovis points than any other cache. Frison and Bradley identified 23 finished and unfinished Clovis points in the Fenn cache. The longest Clovis point in the cache is made of red Utah agate that measures 8 5/16 inches (21.2 cm) long and 2 1/8 inches (5.3 cm) wide. The smallest Clovis point is made of Green River Formation chert and has some impact tip damage. It measures 3 1/8 inches (7.9 cm) long.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
BROKEN CLOVIS POINTS
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    Most of the artifacts in the Fenn cache were newly made and  never used. But as this picture shows there is damage on several of the Clovis points that indicate some of them were being used. At least five or more have broken tips from impact damage, three of them can be seen in this picture. One Obsidian point base (at right side in this picture) was snapped near the center and it may also have been damage from impact. A sample was also cut from this point for hydration testing. The result of the test showed that "it was made in ancient times." Two other Clovis points have a portion of one basal ear broken off and there are two tips of finished Clovis points (the first two examples in this picture) that may have broke during use. The three complete crystal Clovis points in the Fenn cache are also described as possibly having been resharpened.

     Clovis caches tend to be made from the most colorful and highest quality cherts, chalcedony, Obsidian, and crystal that was available in the surrounding areas. These early Paleo people were taking advantage of their unique opportunity of being the first to collect the best stone that had been laying on the surface for thousands of years. The artifacts in the Fenn cache are made of Obsidian, Green River Formation chert, red jasper, Quartz crystal, and Utah agate.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
CORE BLADE
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

     This is the only unifacial tool found in the Fenn cache. It's a typical Clovis blade that was struck from a prepared core. Previous blade removal scars can be seen on the surface. This blade is described as having dulled edges, possibly from use. It's made of Green River Formation chert and it measures 2 5/8 inches (6.8 cm) long.

    The most exotic material in the Fenn Cache is Quartz crystal. This material has turned up in the form of Clovis points from coast-to-coast in the United States. So for either esthetic (beautiful), or for some other reason, this glass-like material was sought after by Paleo-Indian tool makers. The Fenn cache contains three finished Clovis points that were made from Quartz crystal that is slightly smoky. All three points are described as possibly having been resharpened.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
LARGEST BIFACE IN THE CACHE
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    This is the largest biface that was found in the Fenn cache. It's a "classic" example of a type that is often referred to as a "platter biface" because of its large round shape. Another name used in reference to these very large bifaces is "biface core" because the large flakes they produce could supply material for a number of different types of tools. The edge trimming on this biface is described as possible platform preparations for setting up further flake removals. The largest Clovis "platter" biface discovered in a cache was found in the Montana Anzick cache. It measured 12 3/8 inches (31.4 cm) long. This example is made of opaque Obsidian and it measures 8 5/16 inches (21.1 cm) long and 5 3/4 inches (14.5 cm) wide.

    The Fenn cache is covered with a coating of red ochre that adheres to the surface of most of the artifacts. The color red is a representation of blood and life. So this extra addition to the cache does suggest a possible ritual connection. Other Clovis caches that have coatings of red ochre include Anzick, East Wenatchee, and the Simons cache. One of the most recent discoveries of a Clovis cache, the Mahaffy cache, was not coated with red ochre.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
LONGEST CLOVIS POINT IN THE CACHE
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

     This is the longest Clovis point that was found in the Fenn cache and the fourth longest artifact that was found in the cache. It's described as an unfinished Clovis point that a "good knapper" would only need a few minutes to complete. But in its present form it's not impossible that it could have served as a knife. This point was skillfully made using nice even percussion flaking. It's made from a beautiful piece of translucent red and purple Utah Agate.  It measures 8 5/16 inches (21.2 cm) long.

    The Fenn cache contains one crescent which is important for the fact that it's the only known example ever found in a Clovis cache. Although the known history surrounding the discovery of the Fenn cache is not what everyone would like. This crescent does seem to belong to the assemblage because it's made from the same Green River Formation chert as other artifacts in the group and it's also coated with red ochre. Some archaeologists believe the Great Basin Stemmed Point Tradition, a possible source for this crescent, is either directly or indirectly connected to Clovis. Indirectly because these types of stemmed points are believed by some to predate Clovis. So the Fenn crescent may help to establish that the Great Basin Stemmed Point Tradition (also referred to as the Western Stemmed Point Tradition) was either contemporaneous with Clovis or possibly older than the Clovis culture. Another source describes crescents that have been found on the surface in California along with small Clovis-like points.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
CRESCENT
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

     This is the only crescent found in the Fenn cache and in fact it's the only known example ever found in a Clovis cache. It's described as having sharp edges at both ends but the middle area on both sides have been dulled by grinding. Although the known history surrounding the discovery of the Fenn cache is not what everyone would like. This crescent does seem to belong to the assemblage because it is made from the same Green River Formation chert as other artifacts in the group and it's also coated with red ochre. Crescent is the term that is most often used to describe these uniquely shaped early tool forms. But in fact, they were actually described and named Great Basin Transverse points by C.W. Clewlow Jr. in 1968. Most crescents are curved with a concave edge on one side and a convex edge on the other so the descriptive word "crescent" is most often used. Some archaeologists believe the Great Basin Stemmed Point Tradition, which is a possible source for this crescent, is either directly or indirectly connected to Clovis. Indirectly because these types of stemmed points are believed by some to predate Clovis. So this crescent may help to establish that the Great Basin Stemmed Point Tradition (also referred to as the Western Stemmed Point Tradition) was either contemporaneous with Clovis or possibly older than the Clovis culture. Another source describes crescents that have been found on the surface in California along with small Clovis-like points. This crescent measures 2 3/8 inches (6 cm) long.

    Only one unifacial tool was found in the Fenn cache. It's a typical Clovis blade that was struck from a prepared core. Previous blade removal scars are evident on the surface. This blade is described as having dulled edges, possibly from use. It's made of Green River Formation chert and it measures 2 5/8 inches (6.8 cm) long.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
BIFACE
BEST EXAMPLE OF OVER-SHOT FLAKING
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    This is one of the more interesting bifaces in the Fenn cache because it has the best example of an over-shot flake removal. One flake removed nearly 4 inches (3 13/16 inches (9.7 cm) of an opposite edge. Another smaller over-shot flake can be seen near the point. The opposite side has an over-shot flake that measures 2 inches (5.1 cm) wide. This biface is made of opaque black Obsidian and it measures 7 5/8 inches (19.4 cm) long.

    The Fenn cache did produce one artifact that is exceptional for the craftsmanship it displays. It's in the form of a finished Clovis point, #149. It's most remarkable feature is the very uniform diagonal and parallel edge-to-edge flaking pattern that was accomplished by a very skilled Clovis knapper. This type of flaking is also referred to as an outré passe flaking pattern. These flakes were removed by percussion. Some flintknappers believe this manufacturing technique was done by indirect percussion flaking. Today's most expert flintknappers would find it very difficult to duplicate. This type of flaking is not rare in western Clovis but it's rare to see it so uniformly done. The other remarkable feature about this point is that it's made from a blood red colored stone that is red jasper from the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming. The fact that this large Clovis point was so remarkably well crafted out of red blood colored stone similar to the color of red ochre, might suggest that its intended purpose was to be used as a "special ritual item." This Clovis point measures 6 inches (15.2 cm) long and 1 13/16 inches (4.6 cm) wide.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
BIFACE
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    This biface is the seventh longest artifact in the Fenn cache. The many large percussion flake removal scars that can be seen on both sides are very impressive. This biface is described as being especially thin and the finishing work that was done to the edges may suggest that it was intended to be used as a knife. This biface is made of Green River Formation chert. It measures 8 1/16 inches (20.4 cm) long, 4 1/4 inches (10.8 cm) wide and 9/16 inch (13.9 mm) thick.

    Some Clovis caches contain only unused artifacts in their assemblage. Most of the items in the Fenn cache were newly made and  never used but several of the Clovis points were damaged and resharpened from use. At least five Clovis points might have received their broken tips from impact damage. One Obsidian point that snapped near the center may also have been damage from impact. Two other Clovis points have a portion of one basal ear broken off and there are two tips of finished Clovis points that may have broke during use. The three complete  crystal Clovis points in the Fenn cache are also described as possibly having been resharpened.


Four Utah agate Clovis bifaces from the Fenn cache.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGER IMAGE
UTAH AGATE BIFACES
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    All four of these Clovis bifaces are made of Utah agate. They all have a lanceolate form that suggests they probably represent early stages of finished Clovis points.
   The biface at top left was made with nicely done evenly spaced percussion flaking. It measures 5 7/8 inches (15 cm) long.
   The biface at top right is another example of a well made and better than average flaked biface from the cache. It measures 7 3/4 inches (196.5 cm) long.
   The biface at lower left is described as having enough pressure finishing-flaking done to the edge near the tip that it might suggest its intended use as a knife. This biface also has two very large end thinning flute flakes that were removed from both sides of the base. This point measures 5 7/8 inches (14.9 cm) long.
   The biface at lower right is typical of other examples in the cache. It was bifacially shaped with very large percussion flake removals and roughly pressure trimmed along the edges. This biface also has one large end thinning flute flake scar on one side. The large inclusion-flaw near the base possibly would have made it difficult to finish the biface into a Clovis point unless its length was reduced. This biface measures 7 7/16 inches (18.9 cm) long.

    Clovis caches are one of the most important sources for Early Paleo-Indian research. They have been most useful in the area of understanding Clovis manufacturing technology because caches have produced the best study pieces. These assemblages have produced all the different stages of manufacture from extremely large biface cores to small resharpened and use damaged Clovis points. Caches can also indicate Clovis movement patterns by tracking artifact material source locations. Clovis caches are also useful for providing archaeologists with the best examples of different types of Clovis tool forms. Caches have produced the largest Clovis points, the largest bifaces and some of the largest core blades.



CLICK ON PICTURES FOR LARGER IMAGE
GREEN RIVER FORMATION BIFACES
FENN CACHE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO OR WYOMING

    All four bifaces in this picture are made of Green River Formation chert.
   The biface at top left is described as having very irregular flaking indicating it's at an early stage of bifacial reduction. One large end thinning flake was removed on one side. This biface measures 6 1/16 inches (15.4 cm) long.
   The biface at top right is described as an unfinished Clovis point or knife. This biface has several very large percussion flake removals and the edge is roughly trimmed. It measures 4 5/8 inches (11.7 cm) long.
   The biface at bottom left has several very large percussion flake removals like so many other bifaces in the Fenn cache. But one side of this biface has two particularly large diagonal flakes removed that is impressive. A large portion of the edge and one triangular area on one side are original surfaces that have not yet been removed. This is a very early stage biface. It measures 6 3/8 inches (16.2 cm) long.
   The biface at bottom right is described as having excellent control of over-shot flaking. There are at least three large flakes that extend across the full width of the biface. The edges are roughly trimmed. This biface measures 5 13/16 inches (14.7 cm) long.

    It's a good bet that there are more Clovis caches buried in the ground. The Fenn cache was a great discovery for archaeological research. It's hard to imagine another one just as nice. A new cache could turn up at any time, in the next shovel full of garden dirt, cultivated field or earth moving construction project. So another discovery, if it's anything like the Fenn cache, is something we can all look forward to.

"REFERENCES"

1912, Hodge, Frederick Webb, "Cache Discs and blades," Handbook Of American Indians North Of Mexico, part 1, p. 178.
1999
, Frison, George & Bradley, Bruce, "The Fenn Cache, Clovis Weapons & Tools."
1999
, Frison, George, "The Late Pleistocene Prehistory of the Northwestern Plains, the Adjacent mountains, and Intermontane Basins," The Ice Age Peoples Of North America, Environments, Origins, and Adaptations, p. 272-273.
1999
, Bouldurian, Anthony T., Cotter, John L., "Clovis Revisited, New Perspectives On Paleoindian Adaptations From Blackwater Draw, New Mexico," p. 28-29, (Clovis Core Reduction).
2005
, Alan L., Bryan & Donald R. Tuohy, "Prehistory Of The Great Basin/Snake River Plain To About 8,500 Years Ago," Ice Age Peoples Of North America, pp. 252 & 258.
2010, Kohntopp, Steve W., "The Simon Clovis Cache."
2012, Stanford, Dennis J., Bradley, Bruce A., "Across Atlantic Ice, The Origin Of America's Clovis Culture," p. 43.

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