The Bone Point And The Clovis Point: Two Technologies, One Question

The Manis bone point and the Clovis stone point represent two different technological approaches to the same fundamental problem: how do you make a weapon that can kill a very large, very dangerous animal?

The Clovis solution was to produce a finely made stone point — large, thin, precisely shaped, with the distinctive basal thinning produced by fluting.

Clovis points were mounted on wooden shafts and delivered by thrusting or throwing, possibly using an atlatl — a spear-throwing device that dramatically increases the velocity and range of a thrown spear.

The Clovis point’s thin cross-section and sharp edges allowed it to cut through hide and penetrate to the vital organs with a thrust or a throw from a safe distance.