Folsom

A village in northeastern New Mexico which lends its name to the remains of a prehistoric culture first found there and especially to its characteristic projectile point (Folsom point). It was a Stone Age culture, characterized by refinement of fluted projectile points, marking a significant advance over the projectile points of the earlier Clovis culture. The culture is believed to be 10-13,000 years old (11,000-10,200 BP). It was the scene of one of the first New World discoveries of artifacts associated with extinct fauna (the remains of 23 extinct giant bison). Folsom points are usually dated between c 9000-8000 BC. Folsom points are slightly different from Clovis: smaller, with their widest dimension near the middle rather than towards the base; more concave base than Clovis, and edges of Folsom points were retouched. Another site, Blackwater Draw has its Folsom layer dated to 8340 BC.

A kill site discovered in the plains area of New Mexico, USA, in 1926. Distinctive man-made weapons found in assocation with the remains of the now extinct Bison antiquus established beyond doubt the antiquity of the native American. Based on this association, further sites were designated Folsom (or as having a Folsom component). The Folsom fluted point, although similar to Clovis, is usually smaller with finely retouched edges and characteristic ear-like projections at the base. The term Folsom is still retained, especially in the typology of projectile points, but is now viewed less as a cultural entity than as a variation in a cultural continuum. Dates for Folsom material are usually within the period 9000-8000 be.