The Maryland Fluted Point Survey: New Insights on the Paleoindian Occupation (13,000 to 10,000 ybp)

The Maryland Fluted Point Survey (MDFPS), which was first formalized in the late 1960s by Tyler Bastian, Maryland’s first State Archaeologist was relaunched in 2020 to compile data on the distinctive projectile points created by the early Native Americans known to archaeologists as Paleoindians. This data will be synthesized to study the lifeways of the Paleoindians who lived in Maryland during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene between 13,000 and 10,000 years ago.
This presentation provides an overview of the Paleoindian Period in Maryland based on data from the statewide Maryland Fluted Point Survey. Trends in the Paleoindian occupation of Maryland will be considered based on the analysis of fluted point morphology, toolkit composition, raw material exploitation, and site locations.
Author biography
Zachary Singer received his Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut in 2017. Zac is the Research Archaeologist for the Maryland Historical Trust. His research interests include eastern North American archaeology, Paleoindian lithic technology, three-dimensional digital modeling of artifacts, and geophysical remote sensing.
* Natural History Society of Maryland’s Archaeology Club promotes the value of archaeology in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and surrounding areas. The goal of the Archaeology Club is to educate citizenry in the ethics, methods, and artifact preservation methods of archaeology and how archaeology can be used to document, discover, and promote local history. The Archaeology Club is inclusive to all persons who have an interest in archaeology.
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[@Wildernessquestoutdoors]

Great presentation. I don’t know why there’s not more comments on this video.

[@joyciejd9673]

what a great presentation. I am on the Board of a Museum that owns about 2,000 points. I know that there were 2 points documented years ago as being paleo-Indian points but they were either lent out and never returned or lost somewhere in the collection. Now I have a better idea of what I'm looking for. Much easier to look for fluting than looking at them with a ruler and comparing them to two crummy photos I have from an archaeological journal. Thank you so much!

[@brianmorrison4460]

Thank you for this very interesting presentation

[@MarylandNature]

Our pleasure!

[@cg9612]

Interesting explanation of fluted points!

[@user-gw2bi9xr7e]

Out west over 15 years fieldwork, dozens of classic Clovis, one Folsom, hundreds of Stem points, no Cumberland, one Northumberland or Crowfield, which in the Great basin is called Tulare Lake, no Barnes. Three Large Paleo Corner-notched. Nice video.

[@mc7575]

Hi, I was wondering if I could repatriate the couple of points Ive found in last few years?

[@williambrandondavis6897]

Unless the point was dug up from stratified soil, scientifically dated, preferably using more than one technique and by a professional team of qualified scientists I wouldn’t include the data. If you want be scientific then you can’t assume simply by the style of the point that it is as old as the few that have been scientifically dated. People have been making fluted Clovis style points for 12,000 years. Look it up on you tube. People are still making them everyday.

[@taylorgall9516]

That is true.

[@CliftonHicksbanjo]

07:15 The artist included a woman in the hunting party, but made her "cover up." 🤣

[@c.m.r.artifacts84]

I am from Carroll county, I recently found what I believe is a Dove tail point in my garden. It is broke length wise. The tip is broke,but half of the base is there with a notch. The material has me stumped as to what type. I have started to be very interested in finding native artifacts in the past 3 years. My Father also found 2 bird points in the past I know of in the same location. I am highly interested in finding more information on sites in and around the area I live in.

[@MarylandNature]

Please consider joining the NHSM Archaeology Club. Email Matthey for more information [e-mail]