Review by Choice Review
This well-written work examines an important period in North American prehistory--when people made and used a distinctive chipped-stone projectile tip called the Clovis point. These people left archaeological remains that are relatively distinct, and unlike possibly earlier societies, archaeologists seldom question their occupation of the continent. Haynes (Univ. of Nevada, Reno) first discusses the often contentious debate of whether the Clovis people were the first humans to settle in the New World some 11,000 years ago. In the remainder of the book he describes Clovis-type artifacts and artifact assemblage, explains the Clovis way of life as inferred from the archaeological evidence, recounts the search for Clovis "ancestors" in such far-flung places as Western Europe and Africa, explores the tactics Clovis people could have used while hunting and how they possibly played a role in the extinction of late-Pleistocene animals like mammoths and mastodons, and, finally, speculates how these people could have entered and dispersed themselves across the continent. A conclusion draws all of the preceding material together in a concise statement. Haynes's writing style is succinct, clear, and accessible to all readers, from those with a general interest in the topic to serious students of archaeology. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. All libraries. T. A. Foor University of Montana
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
