The Clovis culture is a prehistoric Native American civilization that existed around 13,000 to 12,600 years ago. The spelling of "Clovis" is pronounced as /ˈkloʊvɪs/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable, "clo", rhymes with "slow", while the second syllable, "vis", rhymes with "bliss". This spelling is derived from the town of Clovis, New Mexico, where the first artifacts of this culture were discovered in the early 20th century. The Clovis culture is known for their distinctive stone tools and for being some of the first inhabitants of North America.
The Clovis culture refers to an ancient prehistoric culture in North America that existed around 13,000 to 12,600 years ago during the Late Pleistocene epoch. Named after the town of Clovis, New Mexico, where distinctive stone tools were first discovered, the Clovis culture represents one of the earliest known human populations in the Americas.
Characterized by their distinctive fluted spear points, known as Clovis points, the Clovis people were highly skilled hunters and toolmakers. These points were crafted by carefully chipping away at hard stone to form a sharp, bifacial edge on both sides, which often had a fluted groove running along the center. The points were attached to wooden or bone shafts and could be used as highly effective hunting projectiles.
Clovis culture is believed to have primarily relied on big-game hunting, particularly mammoth, mastodon, and giant bison, as evidence of hunted game animals has been found at various sites. They were likely nomadic, following the herds' migratory patterns to ensure a sustainable food source.
The Clovis culture played a significant role in the peopling of the Americas, as their distinctive tools and artifacts have been found across a wide geographic range, from Alaska to Central America. Their presence suggests their presence and migration routes throughout the continent.
While the exact nature and decline of the Clovis culture are still subjects of ongoing research and academic debate, their legacy as one of the earliest known human cultures in the Americas has left a lasting impact on our understanding of prehistoric human settlement in the continent.
The term "Clovis culture" is named after Clovis, New Mexico, where the first archaeological evidence of this prehistoric culture was discovered in the 1930s. The name Clovis was chosen by archaeologist Edgar B. Howard, who excavated the distinctive stone tools and spearpoints of this culture.