Human (Clovis)–gomphothere (Cuvieronius sp.

)
association ∼13,390 calibrated yBP in Sonora, Mexico
Guadalupe Sancheza, Vance T. Hollidayb,c,1, Edmund P. Gainesd, Joaquín Arroyo-Cabralese, Natalia Martínez-Tagüeñab,
Andrew Kowlerc, Todd Langef, Gregory W. L. Hodginsb,f, Susan M. Mentzerg, and Ismael Sanchez-Moralesb
a
Estación Regional del Noroeste, Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 83000 Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico; bSchool of
Anthropology, cDepartment of Geosciences, and fArizona Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; dURS Alaska,
Fairbanks, AK 99701; eLaboratorio de Arqueozoología, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 06060 Mexico D.F., Mexico; and gInstitute for
Archaeological Sciences, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, 72074 Tübingen, Germany

Edited by Richard G. Klein, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, and approved June 19, 2014 (received for review March 12, 2014)

The earliest known foragers to populate most of North America exposed in head cuts and in a series of erosional islands (Fig. 1).
south of the glaciers [∼11,500 to ≥ ∼10,800 14C yBP; ∼13,300 to The bone bed, artifacts, and their containing strata are associated
∼12,800 calibrated (Cal) years] made distinctive “Clovis” artifacts. with only one of these islands (locality 1) (Fig. 1 and SI Appendix,
They are stereotypically characterized as hunters of Pleistocene Site Stratigraphy and Formation Processes and Fig. S1). Locality 1
megamammals (mostly mammoth) who entered the continent is isolated from and stratigraphically different from all other
via Beringia and an ice-free corridor in Canada. The origins of exposures in the area. Geomorphic and stratigraphic relations,
Clovis technology are unclear, however, with no obvious evidence therefore, cannot be fully reconstructed across the site.
of a predecessor to the north. Here we present evidence for Clovis
hunting and habitation ∼11,550 yBP (∼13,390 Cal years) at “El Fin Results
del Mundo,” an archaeological site in Sonora, northwestern Mexico. In locality 1, three strata (2–4, bottom to top) were identified
The site also includes the first evidence to our knowledge for (described in SI Appendix, Site Stratigraphy and Formation Pro-
gomphothere (Cuvieronius sp.) as Clovis prey, otherwise unknown cesses and Tables S1 and S2), resting on the local bedrock (Fig. 2
in the North American archaeological record and terminal Pleisto- and SI Appendix, Site Stratigraphy and Formation Processes and
cene paleontological record. These data (i) broaden the age and Fig. S2). Strata 3 and 4 filled a channel of unknown width (but
geographic range for Clovis, establishing El Fin del Mundo as one <100 m; SI Appendix, Site Stratigraphy and Formation Processes)
of the oldest and southernmost in situ Clovis sites, supporting the and length cut into stratum 2. Stratum 2 is up to 3 m thick and is
hypothesis that Clovis had its origins well south of the gateways composed of pebbly sandy clay fining upward into a sandy clay
into the continent, and (ii) expand the make-up of the North with well-expressed (Bt-Bk soil horizonation) soil in the upper
American megafauna community just before extinction. ∼1.0 m (“Big Red” in Fig. 2, SI Appendix, Site Stratigraphy and
Formation Processes and Table S2). Where not incised, exposures
Paleoindian | proboscidean of stratum 2 are locally buried by late Pleistocene and Holocene
seep or spring carbonates (Fig. 2 and SI Appendix, Site Stratig-

C lovis is the oldest well-established archaeological techno-

complex in North America and is documented across much
of the continent. The fundamental characteristics of this earliest
raphy and Formation Processes, Fig. S4, and Table S2).
Stratum 3 is composed of unbedded, poorly sorted pebbly
sandy clay up to 1 m thick (3A) overlain by a poorly sorted sandy
well-defined foraging group to occupy North America south of
the glaciers remain unclear, however. The timing of their ap- Significance
pearance, the geographical origins of their distinctive Clovis
projectile points, and their subsistence base, are the subject of Archaeological evidence from Sonora, Mexico, indicates that
continued debate (1–5). Archaeological excavations at El Fin del the earliest widespread and recognizable group of hunter-
Mundo in northwestern Mexico (Fig. 1) provide new data and gatherers (“Clovis”) were in place ∼13,390 y ago in south-
insights for all of these issues. western North America. This is the earliest well-documented
In situ Clovis sites are known primarily from the Great Plains population on the continent and suggests that the unique
and southeastern Arizona (3). The latter represents the densest Clovis artifact style originated in the southwest or south cen-
concentration of in situ Clovis sites, with four Clovis–mammoth tral part of the continent, well south of the Arctic gateways
sites along a 20-km reach of the upper San Pedro River and two into the continent. These hunters targeted gomphotheres, an
other Clovis sites in the same area with probable mammoth elephant common in south and central North America, but
associations (Fig. 1) (6). In 2007, following reports from a local unknown in association with humans or at this late age in
rancher, we discovered Clovis artifacts and Proboscidean re- North America.
mains eroding from an arroyo wall at El Fin del Mundo. Exca-
vations and surveys during 2007–2012 documented Clovis Author contributions: G.S., V.T.H., and E.P.G. designed and carried out the research plan;
artifacts in association with the remains of two gomphotheres, a V.T.H. prepared most of the paper and supplemental data; G.S. and J.A.-C. contributed to
the writing of the paper; crew chiefs E.P.G. (2007–2009) and N.M.-T. (2010–2012) provided
Clovis camp on the surface of the surrounding uplands, and insights on the context of the bone and the stone artifacts; J.A.-C. provided all faunal
nearby sources of raw material for manufacture of stone tools. identifications; A.K. formulated research design and age models for all radiocarbon dat-
This paper focuses on the Clovis–gomphothere bone bed, to our ing and wrote the corresponding section of the SI Appendix; T.L. processed charcoal
samples and provided feedback on charcoal-dating protocol; G.W.L.H. handled all bone
knowledge the first in situ Clovis finds reported south of the and tooth dating and wrote the corresponding section of the SI Appendix; S.M.M. col-
international border. lected and analyzed thin sections from the site and prepared the corresponding section of
El Fin del Mundo is located in an intermontane basin within the SI Appendix; and I.S.-M. gathered and plotted data on bone and artifact depths.
a chain of volcanic hills in the Sonoran Desert ∼100 km north- The authors declare no conflict of interest.
west of Hermosillo, in the Mexican state of Sonora (Fig. 1). The This article is a PNAS Direct Submission.
site is exposed by an arroyo system along the distal edge of a large 1
To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: vthollid@email.arizona.edu.
bajada composed of Pleistocene and older basin fill. The drain- This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10.
age is part of the Rio Bacoachi. Dissection left the local basin fill 1073/pnas.1404546111/-/DCSupplemental.

10972–10977 | PNAS | July 29, 2014 | vol. 111 | no. 30 www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1404546111

 and Formation Processes and Table S1). The top of the diatomite
forms an erosional contact with the overlying diatomaceous
earth. The parts of the bone bed exposed above stratum 3 were
directly buried by the diatomite.
The diatomite represents standing-water conditions, and the
diatomaceous earth represents organic-matter production in
a wet, perhaps marshy setting in a basin at least 32 m wide (SI
Appendix, Site Stratigraphy and Formation Processes). Due to the
extensive erosion, the mechanism causing the impoundment of
stratum 4 is unknown. The strata 3–4 sequence is very similar in
lithology and chronology (discussed below) to the Paleoindian
geoarchaeology at the Lubbock Lake and Clovis sites (7–10) and
other localities on the Southern High Plains (10, 11). No
weathering was observed in upper stratum 3 and the weathering
characteristics of the bone are similar both where it was buried
by upper stratum 3B and where it was buried by stratum 4. The
diatomite at the base of stratum 4, therefore, probably was laid
down shortly after the upper bone bed was created and exposed.
Excavations in locality 1 focused on the bone bed. Stratum 4
and upper stratum 3 were removed across the eastern end of
locality 1. This work exposed all of the bone bed, which covered
∼40 m2 (Fig. 3). Two concentrations of large mammal bones
were uncovered along with scattered bone fragments. The big-
gest bones and three flakes in direct contact with the bone were
Fig. 1. El Fin del Mundo with location of locality 1 (black area at east end is found on the contact between 4 and 3B. The other artifacts and
the excavation), nonarchaeological localities 3 and 4 (1 and 3 are in an ar-
bone were between the top of 3B and 26 cm below the contact;
royo system), and the areas of the upland Clovis camp (2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 22). Inset
shows location of the site (El Fin del Mundo, FdM) in northern Mexico rel- mostly within 15 cm of the contact (SI Appendix, Site Stratigraphy
ative to the Clovis mammoth kills in the upper San Pedro Valley (SPV) of and Formation Processes, Fig. S6, and Table S6). Twenty-seven
southern Arizona. stone and bone artifacts, including nine flakes found during
screening, were recovered from the upper bone bed over an
excavated area of ∼14 × 4 m (Fig. 3 and SI Appendix, Table S6).
clay (3B) (Fig. 2 and SI Appendix, Site Stratigraphy and Formation Seven well-made, fluted, lanceolate bifaces along with three
Processes and Fig. S2). The pebbly character of some components other tools were found in and around the upper bone bed (Figs.
of stratum 3, fining upward sequences in 3A, and in 3B, and the 4 and 5 and SI Appendix, Figs. S7–S9 and Table S3). The points
appearance of cut-and-fill cycles within stratum 3, indicates cyclical all fit well into the range in morphological variation of Clovis
aggradation and erosion. The poorly sorted character of stratum 3 points (3, 12). Four Clovis points were found in situ in associa-
suggests variable discharge throughout deposition. That and the tion with the bone concentrations, whereas three were found in
short transport distance indicated by the pebbles all suggest de- disturbed contexts. Clovis point no. 63177 (Fig. 4D and SI Ap-
position in spring-fed waters. The nearby seep or spring carbonates pendix, Fig. S7A) is complete and was found 60 cm southwest of
also support this interpretation. The gomphothere bone bed is the gomphothere no. 2 mandible. Teeth and bone fragments
partially buried in the upper ∼15 cm of 3B (Fig. 2 and SI Appendix, were found above and under the Clovis point. The artifact shows
Distribution of Bones and Stones and Figs. S2, S4, and S5). no signs of reworking. Two Clovis points were found together
Stratum 4 is up to 1 m thick and rests unconformably on ∼2 m east of gomphothere no. 2 (SI Appendix, Fig. S10). One is
stratum 3B. At the base of stratum 4 is a discontinuous layer of a complete point (no. 62943) (Fig. 4F and SI Appendix, Fig. S7B)
diatomite up to 10 cm thick (Fig. 2 and SI Appendix, Figs. S2 and that exhibits moderate to heavy reworking by fine pressure
S4). Most of the rest of stratum 4 is gray, silty diatomaceous flaking. The invasive pressure retouch flake scars are located
earth (SI Appendix, Site Stratigraphy and Formation Processes and anterior of the ground basal margins, indicating that reworking
Fig. S2). The upper half of the diatomaceous earth was subjected was performed when the projectile was hafted within a foreshaft.
to weathering and soil formation (SI Appendix, Site Stratigraphy The fragmentary point is a distal portion (no. 62942) (SI Appendix,

AND PLANETARY SCIENCES

EARTH, ATMOSPHERIC,
ANTHROPOLOGY

Fig. 2. Schematic geologic cross-section through locality 1 (the main excavation area) south through the locality 3 island and then southwest to the uplands
(Fig. 1) where diagnostic Clovis and later period archaeological materials were found on the surface of an eroded soil named “Big Red” owing to its striking
color. In other localities, the Big Red soil is buried and is equivalent to upper stratum 2. Dates are means in radiocarbon years (rcy).

Sanchez et al. PNAS | July 29, 2014 | vol. 111 | no. 30 | 10973
 S8 and Table S3). A clear quartz point (no. 58342) (Fig. 4C and SI
Appendix, Fig. S8A) was found ∼1.0 m from gomphothere no. 2 at
the same elevation (SI Appendix, Table S6). At the east end of
locality 1, in an area heavily mixed by mammal burrowing, a point
(no. 59569) (Fig. 4B and SI Appendix, Fig. S8B) was recovered
from a krotovina. Another Clovis point was found on the surface
∼8.0 m southeast of locality 1 (no. 46023) (Fig. 4A and SI Ap-
pendix, Fig. S8C). The scraper (no. 45980) that fell out of the bone
bed just before site discovery (SI Appendix, Fig. S11) shows uni-
facial retouch scars on both margins (SI Appendix, Fig. S9 A and
E). Found nearby was the distal fragment of a biface (no. 46021)
(SI Appendix, Fig. S9 B and D) and a midsection made of quartz
with epidote inclusions (no. 46022) (SI Appendix, Fig. S9C).
Twenty-one flakes (12 flakes in situ and 9 in screening) and
some modified bone were recovered from the feature. The flakes
are both fine retouch flakes and bifacial thinning flakes that were
probably obtained in the process of resharpening butchering
tools. The flakes range in size from 32.4 to 4.0 mm. Most were
found in the same level as and directly associated with the bone
concentrations and adjacent areas, and among charcoal con-
centrations (Fig. 3 and SI Appendix, Table S6 and Figs. S14 and
S15). The raw material of the flakes is the same type of stone
used for points and tools found at locality 1 and the upland
campsite. Flake no. 63448 was made of rhyolite identical to
Clovis point no. 63177 and within 30 cm of dated charcoal (SI
Appendix, Fig. S15). Two flakes of clear quartz were also recovered.
Modified bone includes a burned bone and two bone ornaments, all
recovered in an area between the two bone concentrations (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. The upper bone bed in locality 1, showing bone concentrations 1

(#1) and 2 (#2), and highlighting the mandible (M). Also shown are key ar-
chaeological finds recovered in situ: C, charcoal; F, flake; P, projectile point;
WB, worked bone with incised V.

Fig. S7C). Its proximal margin exhibits a snap break of the type
commonly seen in impact fractures. It retains no basal margins,
including any of the ground portions that would have been within
the haft. The fourth in situ Clovis point (no. 63008) is complete
(Fig. 4F and SI Appendix, Fig. S7D). One margin displays some
evidence of slight reworking in the form of random invasive
pressure flaking along both margins. Fig. 4. Artifacts from locality 1: out-of-context points A (46023), B (59569),
Three complete Clovis points and three stone tools were re- C (59342); points found in the bone bed: D (63177), E (63008), and F (62943);
covered from disturbed contexts (Fig. 4 A–C and SI Appendix, Fig. and rounded and incised bone G (59892).

10974 | www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1404546111 Sanchez et al.

 characteristic of gomphotheres (Fig. 6). The m1 is identifiable as
a brevirostrine taxon, Cuvieronius sp. The mandible has both rami
damaged on the coronoid processes. Individual no. 1 is an un-
identified proboscidean roughly the same size and age as individual
no. 2. Those characteristics and the proximity of the two bone
concentrations suggest that no. 1 is likely another gomphothere.
Strong weathering of the gomphothere remains is illustrated
by the heavily pitted, checkered, and fibrous surfaces, along with
desiccation cracks and exfoliation. Some bones show carnivore
tooth punctures, furrowing, and trampling marks. Weathering
of the bone has so far precluded recognition or identification of
cut marks or other human modification beyond the two small
bone ornaments.

Discussion
Artifacts found in association with the bones and at the same
level in adjacent areas provide strong evidence that human
hunters likely created the feature. The random (nonanatomical)
position of the bone in two distinct piles suggests human action.
Clovis projectile points are hunting weapons and were likely used
as such at El Fin del Mundo. Three of the four points are
complete, but the fourth is missing its base due to an impact-
related snap. This contrasts to the basal point fragments common
in the upland camp (SI Appendix, Fig. S12). This pattern of the
distribution of complete points and basal fragments is similar to
that reported from other Paleoindian kills and camps (6, 14–16).
The base of the bone in the two concentrations is ∼10–15 cm
below the top of stratum 3B and the depth range of most arti-
facts and bone is within ∼15 cm of the top (SI Appendix, Fig. S5
and Tables S5 and S6), suggesting that the bone bed was created
as upper 3B was aggrading. The vertical distribution of the
artifacts and bone and teeth fragments suggests some mixing.
The butchering activity and bone piles could have started on top
of 3B under muddy conditions and become mixed by gravity

Fig. 5. Reverse sides (A′–F′) of points in A–F from Fig. 4.

Both ornaments are rounded and polished. One (no. 59892) has
two incisions in a V shape (Fig. 4G).
Most of the raw material for stone tools is probably local.
Chert is common in channel gravels in the area. Clear quartz
crops out in a hill ∼5 km west of the site. Rhyolite is exposed in
locality 22 on the site uplands (Fig. 1) and is also common in the
volcanic hills surrounding the basin.
The upper bone bed includes remains identifiable as probosci-
dean (Gomphotheridae). The bone was found in two concentrations,
AND PLANETARY SCIENCES
EARTH, ATMOSPHERIC,

both partly removed by the erosion that formed the locality 1

“island.” The two concentrations represent two individuals. Con-
centration no. 1 is a subadult (13–24 y, sensu ref. 13) with astragali,
phalanxes, and metapodials showing fused epiphyses. Other bones
from no. 1 include vertebrae, long bones, a complete pelvis with
both ilia present, and intact ischia and acetabulums, and foot
bones. The remains in concentration no. 2 are from a younger (0–
12 y old) individual, based on molar eruption, and also on bones
that do not have fused epiphyses and diaphyses on the
ANTHROPOLOGY

vertebrae centrum. Concentration no. 2 includes a mandible and

a few molar fragments, pelvis, ribs, vertebra, scapula, and cranial
fragments. Presence of two premolars and first molar (m1) in the Fig. 6. The mandible from bone concentration 2, showing the molars
mandible and their stage of wear indicate that this animal could characteristic of Cuvieronius sp. The molars have rounded cusps and are
be around 11 y old. The molars show the bunodont pattern trilophodont with internal lophids simpler than external ones.

Sanchez et al. PNAS | July 29, 2014 | vol. 111 | no. 30 | 10975
settling, humans, or perhaps other animals walking through the into the midcontinent. Hamilton and Buchanan (20), based on
mud, cracking, or some combination of all of these processes. a statistical analysis of Clovis radiocarbon dates propose that
Numerical age control for the upper bone bed and encasing Clovis originated in the northern Great Plains, near the mouth of
deposits was established using radiocarbon dating (Fig. 2 and SI the Ice Free Corridor and rapidly spread across North America,
Appendix, Radiocarbon Dating and Table S8). Charcoal flecks quantifying decades of speculation. However, their data come
found among and at the same level as the stone flakes (SI Ap- from Waters and Stafford (1) who rejected Aubrey as a dated
pendix, Figs. S14 and S15) and the burned bone fragment at the Clovis site. Many archaeologists took exception to their in-
west end of the feature (Fig. 3) provided radiocarbon dates of terpretation of Aubrey (2). By including Aubrey and now El Fin
11,550 ± 60 14C yBP on one piece of clean charcoal and 11,880 ± del Mundo in the corpus of dated Clovis sites raises the possi-
200 14C yBP on humates extracted from another piece (SI Ap- bility that Clovis originated in the south. If it did not, then Clovis
pendix, Radiocarbon Dating and Table S8). The charcoal date of is even older than ∼11,550 14C yBP.
∼11,550 is probably the best approximation of the age of the The dating also provides the youngest numerical age control for
feature, or 13,390 +105/−119 Cal yBP, because humates can gomphotheres in general and Cuvieronius in particular in North
include contaminants (SI Appendix, Radiocarbon Dating). America, indicating that they too were part of the Rancholabrean
Stratum 3 and the exposed bone must have been buried rel- Land Mammal assemblage and the late Pleistocene fauna that
atively quickly under the diatomite of stratum 4 to preserve some became extinct in North America at or just before the beginning of
of the bone. The age range of the diatomite is unknown, but the the Younger Dryas Chronozone.
oldest charcoal date among flecks scattered across an erosion Cuvieronius is known from the southern United States, central
contact at the top is ∼9,715 14C yBP (11,136 +109/−344) (Fig. 2 and and southern México, and across Central and South America
SI Appendix, Fig. S2 and Table S8). The rest of stratum 4 accu- (21–25). Besides El Fin del Mundo, numerical age control for
mulated relatively rapidly; shell at the top of the sequence was this genus in North America is available only from a site in
dated to ∼8,870 14C yBP (9,993 +191/−255 Cal yBP) (Fig. 2 and SI northeast Sonora (∼43,000–40,000 yBP) (26, 27). In western
Appendix, Radiocarbon Dating and Table S6). Mexico a gomphothere Stegomastodon is dated to ∼27,000 yBP
El Fin del Mundo provides strong evidence for the association
(28). An association of stone tools with gomphotheres is repor-
of Clovis hunters with gomphotheres (Cuvieronius sp.). Evidence
ted from Valsequillo (Puebla, Mexico), but the association is not
for prolonged or repeated use of the area or both is indicated by
confirmed (29). In South America, however, gomphotheres in
the extensive camp (the subject of continuing research), found in
archaeological contexts are well documented (30) although only
an arc 500–1,000 m around locus 1 on the stable uplands to the
a few are Cuvieronius (31).
southeast, south, and southwest, where 13 Clovis points (two
El Fin del Mundo is the only human–gomphothere association
heavily reworked; most of the rest point bases) (SI Appendix,
Artifacts from the Surface of the Upland Camp, Table S4, and Fig. in North America. It is also one of the oldest Clovis sites and
S12), 25 point preforms, 38 end scrapers, 39 large blades, and 7 youngest gomphothere sites on the continent and a rare example
blade cores and core tablets were recovered from among an of Cuvieronius in the post-Last Glacial Maximum late Pleistocene.
extensive surface lithic scatter (SI Appendix, Fig. S13). The only The kill represents a short-term event, but an extensive and varied
comparable Clovis site with both a megafauna kill and adjacent stone tool inventory on adjacent uplands is indicative of longer-
upland occupation is Murray Springs, AZ, ∼250 km to the term occupation. The raw materials for the stone artifacts indicate
northeast (Fig. 1) (3). relatively local procurement, typical of other Clovis sites in the
Clovis is classically associated with late Pleistocene mega- region (32, 33) but atypical of Clovis sites in other parts of North
fauna, especially the proboscideans mammoth and mastodon, America (34, 35). These data expand our understanding of the age
but also bison and horse. The research results presented here range for Clovis, Clovis diet, raw material preference, and the late
add another species of proboscidean to the menu of animals Pleistocene megafaunal assemblage of North America, and pro-
hunted and consumed by Clovis foragers. Evidence for hunting vide evidence for a southern origin of the Clovis technocomplex.
of Cuvieronius (as opposed to scavenging) is based on the pres-
ence of projectiles (Clovis points) among the bone, including one Materials and Methods
that likely snapped while hafted (no. 62942) (SI Appendix, Fig. Archaeological field methods are discussed in SI Appendix, Excavation Pro-
S7C). Further, the likelihood of two juvenile gomphotheres dy- cedures. Excavations were based on a standard metric grid and some water
ing together and then scavenged by Clovis foragers whose tools screening of excavated matrix. Geologic investigations included mapping
outcrops, stratigraphic description and mapping, and collecting and ana-
end up near the base of the bone bed seems quite remote.
lyzing thin section samples under a petrographic microscope. Radiocarbon
The age of the bone bed at ∼11,550 14C BP is at the oldest end ages from El Fin del Mundo were determined on charcoal, shell, and organic
of the known age range for Clovis in North America. The date is matter in sediment at the Arizona Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Labora-
not unique, however. The Aubrey Clovis site in north Texas tory (SI Appendix, Radiocarbon Dating). Calibrated radiocarbon ages (Cal BP)
yielded two similar dates: 11,540 ± 110 and 11,590 ± 90 14C yBP, are given as the 2σ range and median probability of possible calendar year
averaging ∼11,565 14C yBP (17). The Gault–Friedkin complex in ages, following Calib 7.0 available at http://calib.qub.ac.uk/calib/.
central Texas may also be about the same age but the dating
there has less precision (4, 18, 19). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. We thank M. Brack, J. Carpenter, O. K. Davis, W. Doelle,
Jennings and Waters (4) based on their work at Gault– D. K. Grayson, C. V. Haynes, S. G. Lucas, D. J. Meltzer, M. Pasenko, G. Placencia,
J. Quade, E. Villalpando, and all of our field and laboratory crews. This work was
Friedkin, suggest that Clovis may have its origins in the southern funded by the Argonaut Archaeological Research Fund (University of Arizona
part of the continent, rather than in proximity to the “Ice Free Foundation) established by J. and R. Cramer, the National Geographic Society,
Corridor” from Beringia, south through modern Canada, and Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, and Archaeology Southwest.

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AND PLANETARY SCIENCES

EARTH, ATMOSPHERIC,
ANTHROPOLOGY

Sanchez et al. PNAS | July 29, 2014 | vol. 111 | no. 30 | 10977