Ancient spearheads reveal how Ice Age humans learned the land

Archaeologists studied about 500 Ice Age spear points from the Tennessee River Valley; 13,200-year-old Clovis hunters resharpened theirs more than later Cumberland people, suggesting newcomers managed risk differently

A fascinating study delved into the projectile points utilized by ancient Clovis and Cumberland cultures in Tennessee, analyzing nearly 500 artifacts from the late Ice Age. Findings reveal that Clovis groups often resharpened their points due to limited resource knowledge, while Cumberland groups tended to discard points with potential still intact. This suggests an evolving approach to resource management, emphasizing the growing familiarity wi…

Ancient spearheads reveal how Ice Age humans learned the land

At the end of the last ice age, early humans crisscrossed the Americas following seasons, rivers and game, often with a trusty spear in hand. Nearly 13,000 years later, archaeologists are using those spearheads to study how America's first inhabitants understood risk.

Ancient tools reveal how Ice Age humans learned the land

Study of projectile points offers clues about how knowledge shaped early human behavior.