Evaluating the Fluted Points from Spring Lake, Texas: A Geometric Morphometric Shape Analysis of Clovis Affinity

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Spring Lake Site (41HY160) in San Marcos, located along the Balcones Escarpment in central Texas, produced fluted points that appear diagnostic of Clovis technology as well as ice-age megafauna remains. Unfortunately, these materials were recovered in what appears to be mixed deposits within the lake itself. For over 40 years, researchers have hypothesized that the points represent Clovis technology and presence at the site. We use a two-dimensional landmark approach to geometric morphometric shape analysis to test the typological context of the artifacts against a dataset of well-dated Clovis point specimens. We examine whether they fall within a morphological range of variation in planview shape documented in point assemblages from Clovis sites organized geographically into the Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast regions. Results suggest that the Spring Lake points possess particular affinity in shape to Clovis points found in the Southwest region.