A LARGE WENATCHEE STYLE CLOVIS POINT
MADE BY D.C. WALDORF
"This is probably the best Clovis point I ever made" (D.C. Waldorf)

A WENATCHEE STYLE CLOVIS POINT
MADE BY D.C. WALDORF
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   This Wenatchee type Clovis point was made by D.C. Waldorf in 1995 by D.C. Waldorf. It was made from a 1/2 inch thick slab of Richardson Agate from Oregon.

   D.C. Waldorf has been involved in experimental archaeology for many years. His main interest is the study and replication of Stone Age lithic technologies. In recent years he has focused on and has been involved in an in-depth  study of Neolithic daggers from northern Europe. As a result of years of study and experimentation he has become a very proficient flintknapper and has published countless articles on the subject. He and his wife Valerie publish the "Chips" flintknapper's publication.


WENATCHEE STYLE CLOVIS POINT
MADE BY D.C. WALDORF
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   D.C. says that he hasn't made a Clovis point this big since he made this one. He says he uses most of his large knapping materials for making Danish daggers. This Clovis point measures 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm) long.

   D.C. says that "this is probably the best Clovis point I ever made". He made it in 1995 out of a 1/2 inch slab of honey colored translucent Richardson agate from Oregon. Although this piece was cut with a rock saw, this material also occurs naturally in slabs in a tabular form. It's also similar to some of the stone found in the East Wenatchee Clovis cache. D.C. used a moose antler billet for the main percussion work and a copper pressure flaker for some of the edge work. The agate was heat treated in the oven between 350 to 400 degrees for something over 15 hours.

Clovis point made by D.C. Waldorf.
 CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE IMAGE
WENATCHEE STYLE CLOVIS POINT
MADE BY D.C. WALDORF
DONNIE McKINNIS COLLECTION

   This picture shows three views of what D.C. Waldorf believes to be his best made Clovis point so far to date. The style is copied from the large Clovis points that were found in the Wenatchee Clovis site cache in Washington state.

   Fluting for this Clovis point was done with direct percussion flaking with a moose antler billet. D.C. said he accomplished this by "jamming the blunt tip of the preform into the side of my upper thigh and hit it with a large slow moving antler billet". This Clovis point measures 6 1/2 inches (16.5 cm) long.


PHOTO CREDIT AND COPYRIGHT  DR. R.M. GRAMLY
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE IMAGE
CLOVIS POINTS
EAST WENATCHEE CLOVIS SITE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
OWNED BY THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

   These 14 clovis points were found during the excavation of the East Wenatchee Clovis site. Most of them were probably used mainly as knives but at least one or more of the smaller points may have been used on spears. 

   Large Clovis points like the one replicated by D.C. and the ones found in the East Wenatchee Clovis site cache would have been used as knives rather than projectile points. One theory for the rough saw-tooth-like edges on some of the points was for cutting meat, possibly frozen meat. These prominent bumps at the flake scar junctures along the edges are called "lugs" by D.C. He says that he doubts that they were platform preparations for further flake removals. He also notes that although the blade edges are irregular, the cutting edge is actually extremely straight, so much so that it had to be done on purpose.

"REFERENCES"

2000, "Clovis Points Then and Now", Chips, Vol. 12, #14, by D.C. Waldorf, pp. 12, 16.
Personal communications with D.C. Waldorf.

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