A 6.3cm-long Clovis point found in Pike County (Illinois).  It is 13,000 years old. Each side o

A 6.3cm-long Clovis point found in Pike County (Illinois).  It is 13,000 years old.

Each side of the base has a longitudinal groove, or “flute”, chipped out of it.  This actually allows the base to act as a “shock absorber”, increasing the point’s ability to withstand stress. Upon impact, the more brittle base crumples and absorbs some of the energy, preventing breaks elsewhere on the point that would make it unable to be reused.

This Clovis point has been to space!