The Clovis projectile point shown in the accompanying photographs is one of the largest and finest fluted points recorded from the State of North Carolina. This artifact is unique in size, shape and workmanship. This large Clovis projectile point is in nearly perfect condition because it was found in a logging area where timber was being removed. It was not plowed up by modern farming machinery in a long cultivated field like most Clovis points. Clark Graves found this beautiful specimen on January 24,1998, when he was fifteen years old. While he was riding an all-terrain vehicle, he stopped for a break, walked around some, then discovered this spectacular point, his first Indian artifact. It wasn't until several months later that he and his sister found out that this wasn't just any spearhead, but a rare Clovis point. The site where the point was found is on a hill located on private property in Richmond County, North Carolina, near the South Carolina state line.

This fine classic Clovis point is made from dark green silicified shale with white specks (called shale flint by collectors) which is native to the area. Similar lithic debitage can be found on the site; however, due to the lack of other Paleo Indian artifacts such as tools, pre-forms, and other points, this point is considered as an isolated find, so the site can not be classified as a Paleo site.

For such a large point, this Clovis exhibits exceptional workmanship and must be considered a most prized specimen. Like most Clovis-like projectile points found in North Carolina, this piece has parallel sides and a shallow concave base. The basic configuration and workmanship of the point is that of a large Ross County variety with large lateral removal flakes from the sides of the blade, giving the appearance of a somewhat flat surface on each face of the point. This specimen was made from a large blank or preform and has two short flute scars on one face and a single flute scar on the reverse face. Flaking is random to collateral on the face of the blade, with fine secondary flaking along the edges of the point from the base to the tip.

Although fluted points were primarily used as projectile points, many were also used as knives hafted on wood, bone or antler handles. It is believed that the majority of the larger specimens were used as knives; however, no scientific evidence has been recovered to date to substantiate this. The purpose of fluting was to improve the hafting of the point, while the grinding and smoothing of the edges of the blade near the base was done to protect the binding on a hafted point.

This beautiful Clovis point is one of the largest and, overall, the best fluted point recorded from North Carolina. It has been given the number 600 in the North Carolina Fluted Point Survey.

Clovis point found by Clark Graves in Richmond County, North Carolina. It is possibly the largest and best Clovis ever found in North Carolina. From the collection of Rodney M. Peck. Photo by Cliff Jackson.