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THE FENN CACHE
CLOVIS CULTURE
BORDER AREA OF UTAH, IDAHO & WYOMING
RETURN TO PAGE 1
COPYRIGHT MAY
31, 2012 PETER A. BOSTROM
This picture shows all 56 of the Fenn
cache artifacts that were discovered sometime around 1902 somewhere
in the three corner area of Utah, Idaho 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 that
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. There is also only one unifacial tool 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.
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