Clovis culture facts for kids
The Clovis culture was a group of early people who lived in North and South America a very long time ago. They are named after special stone tools found near Clovis, New Mexico. Scientists believe these people lived about 13,500 to 13,000 years ago. Many experts think the Clovis people were the ancestors of most Native American groups today.
What Was the Clovis Culture Like?
The Clovis culture was first identified from tools found between 1936 and 1938. These discoveries happened at a place called Blackwater Locality No. 1. This important archaeological site is near the town of Clovis, New Mexico. People had been finding artifacts there since the late 1920s. But it wasn't until 1936 that undisturbed tools and animal bones were found.
Since then, Clovis sites have been found across much of the United States. They are also found in Mexico, Central America, and even northern South America.
A key tool of the Clovis culture is a special stone spear point. It is called the Clovis point. These points have a unique shape with a groove, or "flute," on them.
What Did Clovis People Eat?
It is widely believed that Clovis people hunted large animals like mammoth. Clovis points have often been found where mammoth bones are also present. However, mammoths were only a small part of their diet.
Clovis people also hunted many other animals. These included extinct bison, mastodon, and giant sloths. They also ate tapir, horse, and many smaller animals. In fact, scientists know that Clovis people used over 125 different kinds of plants and animals for food and other needs.
Images for kids
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Clovis points from the Rummells-Maske Cache Site, Iowa
See also
In Spanish: Cultura Clovis para niños
