WHERE DID CLOVIS LITHIC TECHNOLOGY COME FROM?
NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE OR SIBERIA?
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View of the Bering Strait and the mountains of Siberia.
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BERING SEA
 EASTERN SIBERIA
PICTURE CREDIT--KEN TANKERSLEY

   This picture was taken on a rare clear day from Chukotka, Alaska by Dr. Ken Tankersley in 1995. The scene is the Bering sea and the mountains of Eastern Siberia on the horizon. Archaeological sites in Siberia are far older than any of North America's earliest  Paleo sites. Solid uncontroversial dates in America are still only around 12,000 to 14,000 years old. But most paleo archaeologists  generally agree that early migrations into the New World must have occurred sometime between 25,000 and 50,000 years ago. Genetic evidence suggests this also.

   Europe's Aurignacian and North America's Clovis cultures both used a highly developed core & blade technology. Some people believe there may be a connection between the two and that the Clovis stone tool tradition should originate from the Upper Paleolithic in Siberia. At present the generally accepted theory is that Clovis people came into North America from Siberia across the exposed land bridge.  It's logical to assume that this was how they arrived but there is still no solid evidence that conclusively pins it down.

Clovis cores and blades and one hammerstone.
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CLOVIS CORES, BLADES AND HAMMERSTONE
TEXAS, ILLINOIS, KENTUCKY, FLORIDA & MASSACHUSETTS
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

   This picture shows a sampling of several Clovis cores and blades from different states. The largest core was found in Christian County, Kentucky found by Carl Yahnig. It measures 5 7/8 inches (5cm) long. The light yellow core to the left of it is from the Gault site in Texas. All the other cores are from Christian County, Kentucky. The hammer stone at the top of the picture is also from Christian County. The blades are from Illinois, Kentucky, Florida & Massachusetts. Most of the blades are also from Christian County, Kentucky.

    There have been isolated artifact finds in Siberia that are, thought to be by some archaeologists, suggestive of Clovis technology. One of these finds is the "Uptar fluted point" from the site of Uptar in northeastern Siberia. This bifacially flaked projectile point or knife has a single flake that removed nearly all of one side. It's both unique and controversial. Other points were also found at Uptar but none were fluted. The true date of this site is unknown except for an overlaying volcanic level that is 8,300 years old.

Clovis core from Texas. 
End view of a Clovis core from Texas.
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CLOVIS CORE
TEXAS
PRIVATE COLLECTION

   This core was found on a ranch in Texas. It measures 7 3/4" (9.7cm) long which is larger than average.

Clovis core and blade from Kentucky.
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CLOVIS CORE
CHRISTIAN COUNTY, KENTUCKY
CARL YAHNIG COLLECTION

   This core and blade was found by Carl Yahnig on a Clovis site along the Little River in Christian County, Kentucky. The core is made of Hopkinsville chert and measures 5 7/8 inches (5cm) long.

   Archaeological research on Upper Paleolithic sites in eastern Siberia is an ongoing endeavor. Archaeologists are still trying to obtain a better understanding of cultural traditions in this region just before North America's first peopling event. At this time there are still no diagnostically similar Clovis projectile points or knives turning up on any Siberian excavations, at least nothing that is generally accepted. It may take a few more years before scientists can gather enough evidence that will either prove or disprove a link with Clovis and Upper Paleolithic Siberia. The jury is still out.

CONTINUE ON TO PAGE TWO

"REFERENCES"

1988, "Encyclopedia of Human Evolution & Prehistory," by Ian Tattersall, Eric Delson & John Van Couvering.
2002, Personal communications with Dr. Ken Tankersley and Dr. Dennis Stanford.

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