All periods

Paleoindian · c. 13,000 – 10,900 BCE

Early Paleoindian

The earliest securely dated occupations, and the sites that keep the question of first arrival open. Cactus Hill in Virginia has produced material dated to roughly 17,000 years ago — older than classic Clovis, and hard to reconcile with a Clovis-first model.

Date range
13,000 BCE – 10,900 BCE
Key terms
Pre-Clovis · First arrival · Lanceolate points

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Quiz on Early Paleoindian