Clovis Points
A Clovis point can be distinguished from the spear points of other Ice Age societies by its distinctive shape, finely chipped edges, and a flute or furrow in the center. When used, Clovis points were tied with sinew—fibers from animal tendons—to a long shaft. The fluting may have allowed the point to be tied more firmly to the shaft.

Clovis spear points are difficult to make and require a great deal of technical know-how. But they've been found all across North America, showing that in Clovis times, many craftsmen had learned the tricky process to make them. The skills and knowledge used to create Clovis points were not exceeded for thousands of years.

To learn more about how Clovis expertise was shared across such great distances, take a look at the Clovis Video.

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The Clovis peoples who created such sophisticated spear points were hunters and gatherers—the same lifestyle that all people across the globe practiced until 6,000 to 10,000 years ago. Archaeologists experimenting with Clovis spear points find that they penetrate thick elephant skin. Such a powerful tool would have been effective for hunting mammoths and other large, Ice Age animals.

But it's unlikely that a single individual with a single spear could bring down such huge creatures alone...