PROTEIN RESIDUE ANALYSIS OF A CLOVIS POINT FROM THE JAKE BLUFF SITE, 34HP60, HARPER COUNTY, OKLAHOMA

Summary

A protein extract wash from a single Clovis point was submitted for protein residue

analysis from the Jake Bluff Site in northwestern Oklahoma. The point was recovered from the

gully floor, amidst bison bone (Bison antiquus). A radiocarbon date of 10,750 BP suggests that

this site post-dates mammoth extinction in the area and may represent a late-Clovis adaptation

to bison hunting. Previous protein residue analysis of points from the Jake Bluff Site have been

undertaken by PRI, including two Clovis points that tested positive to bison antiserum

(Puseman 2003). However, soil controls associated with these two Clovis points also tested

positive to bison antiserum. As a result, transfer of protein residues from soil saturated with

bison remains to these two Clovis points cannot be ruled out. Although Clovis people are

commonly described as mammoth-hunting specialists, a growing body of evidence suggests

that they utilized a wide variety of animals. As it is our standard protocol, the single Clovis point

submitted for this current analysis was tested against a suite of animal antisera to better

understand its utilization.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• PaleoResearch Institute

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