The Clovis People

Dear History Enthusiast,

In this special edition of the Historyinmemes Newsletter, we journey back in time to uncover the mysteries of the Clovis people, America’s first inhabitants whose story often remains shrouded in obscurity.

🔍Mysterious Origins:

The Clovis people, named after the archaeological site in Clovis, New Mexico, have long fascinated researchers. They are believed to be among the first inhabitants of North America, arriving around 13,000 years ago. Their origins, lifestyle, and eventual disappearance from the archaeological record continue to be subjects of speculation and intrigue.

🌾 The Clovis Big Game Hunters:

The Clovis people of New Mexico thrived in a landscape teeming with abundant wildlife, including mammoths, giant bison, dire wolves, camels, immense turtles, giant ground sloths, and the formidable saber-toothed tiger. At the Blackwater Draw site, their exceptional skills as hunters are vividly demonstrated. Their advanced spear points, discovered in direct association with the remains of Columbian mammoths, showcase the mastery of these early hunters. These colossal creatures, towering at 14 feet and weighing 8 to 10 tons, were formidable game, consuming over 700 pounds of vegetation daily.

The sheer volume of bones found at the Blackwater kill site led early archaeologists to conclude that the Clovis people were indeed skilled big-game hunters. The projectile points, affixed to spear shafts, exhibit impact scars from thrusting and throwing against resilient bone, while their stone tools bear signs of butchering animals.

It’s important to note that while the Clovis people are often associated with big-game hunting, few Clovis sites were exclusive big-game kill sites. Their diet was diverse, encompassing smaller game such as deer, rabbits, coyotes, and birds. The ancient Clovis people were food opportunists, relying on a mix of gathering edible plants, fishing, hunting small mammals, and occasionally taking down large animals for sustenance, showcasing their adaptability and resourcefulness.

🏞️ The Clovis Lifestyle:

The enigma of the Clovis people extends beyond their remarkable hunting skills. Due to the preservation challenges of organic materials like clothing and blankets, much of what we know about the Clovis people is inferred from the artifacts they’ve left behind. What is evident is their nomadic way of life, a testament to their adaptability and resourcefulness. The Clovis were known to roam in pursuit of food, their dwellings consisting of crude shelters, tents, or shallow caves as they moved from place to place.

Researchers have identified five distinct types of Clovis sites across North America, each offering glimpses into their way of life. Single and multiple-event kill sites are often found, revealing their hunting prowess, while campsite locations featuring hearths and cache sites with stored stone tools are rarer but provide valuable insights.

Carbon-14 dating at sites like Blackwater Draw suggests that the Clovis people resided in the area for approximately 600 years. They hunted animals that frequented spring-fed lakes and marshes, built campfires, and even engineered a well—a testament to their engineering prowess as the earliest known water control system in North America. Subsequently, other ancient communities dug as many as 20 additional wells at the site between 4,000 and 10,000 years ago.

Despite these fascinating archaeological discoveries, much remains shrouded in mystery. Precious little is known about the Clovis diet, their clothing, physical appearance, or their cosmological beliefs. There exists only one Clovis burial, that of an infant associated with stone and bone tools, dating back to 12,600 years ago in Montana. DNA analysis of the infant’s remains revealed a direct ancestral link to modern Native Americans, providing a poignant connection to the people who first inhabited this land.

Recommended Reading:

To embark on a deeper exploration of the enigmatic Clovis people, here are three recommended books:

1. “Across Atlantic Ice: The Origin of America’s Clovis Culture” by Dennis J. Stanford and Bruce A. Bradley

– Delve into a comprehensive analysis of the Clovis people’s origins, migration, and contributions to the rich tapestry of American prehistory.

2. “Clovis: On the Edge of a New Understanding” by Ashley M. Smallwood and Thomas A. Jennings

– This book presents the latest research and discoveries related to the Clovis culture, shedding light on their lifestyle, technology, and influence.

3. “The First Americans: In Pursuit of Archaeology’s Greatest Mystery” by J.M. Adovasio and Jake Page

– This book takes a broader perspective on the early inhabitants of the Americas, including the Clovis people, and explores the captivating mystery of their arrival.

Thank you for taking the time to read! I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I did researching. I look forward to sharing more fascinating topics with you. Until then, check out some of my other newsletters!

With historical curiosity,

Evan Founder, Historyinmemes Newsletter