The California Fluted Lanceolate Uniform Testing and Evaluation Database (CalFLUTED) project commenced in 2003 to bring together all the data on fluted projectile (spear) points in four states (California, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah). Fluted points include those known as Clovis and Folsom, which date from about 13,500 to 12,500 years ago for Clovis. For many years the Clovis people were considered to be the first Native Americans by a consensus of archaeologists. Recently a number of pre-Clovis sites have been identified in the Americas.
This volume reports on the data collected by CalFLUTED and includes a discussion of the classification of fluted points—dating the points, identifying flute scars, and traits that indicate a fluted point is not from the prehistoric Far West. Details regarding size, morphology, toolstones, basal flaking, breakage patterns, repair patterns, and more are provided in the database.
The author, archaeologist Michael Rondeau, has done a masterful job of pulling together masses of information on fluted points and presenting it in an easily understandable format. The data is certain to enhance our understanding of some of the earliest Native Americans and help resolve the many remaining questions about the peopling of the New World.
