| These Paleo-era artifacts are considered both rare and archaeologically
important. Dating to over 10,000 years old, the first point shown is known
as a Clovis Point. Named for the little town of Clovis, New Mexico, it
was here that this type of point was first discovered in an archaeological
context—in association with butchered Mammoth remains.
The second point shown here is thought to be a Quad, which dates to
somewhat later than the Clovis Point, and is thought to be indirectly descendant
of the Clovis technology.
The third artifact shown appears to be a Quad Preform—a first-stage
phase where the general form of the point is worked out by direct-percussion
flaking. Preforms were often made at the quarry-site, and taken back to
the hunter’s base-camp for completion.
Among future projects are the mapping out of lithic-sources and the
identification of lithic materials found in these assemblages of artifacts.
From this ground-work, some light may be shed upon the movement and settlement
patterns of these ancient hunters.
Paleo occupation sites in the area around Chicago are quite rare. |
