The Mullins Texas Clovis Cache

The Mullins Texas Clovis Cache

Posted on 01. Jul, 2010 by Shannon Graham in Artifact Finds, Clovis, Flint Knapping, Paleo, Texas

Dr. Leslie Pfeiffer first reported on this Clovis Cache in the Central States Archaeological Journal (January 2005, volume 52, number 1, pp 32-33) and referred to it as the “Mullins Cache”. Discovered during a sand and gravel mining operation 2004 in Bastrop County (southeast-central Texas), this 13 piece cache is believed to be an isolated find as no other artifacts were found in the immediate area.

Dwain Rogers comments:

“The Mullins Cache has smaller preform-like pieces as well as larger and rather thin blades of finished percussion flaking with fine edge pressure sharpening. All of these pieces show typical powerful overshot flaking. Interestingly, the overshot flaking was done in both the preform stage and again as finish overshot flaking as seen in Clovis artifacts throughout their range. Since this overshot percussion work was done early (preform stage) and late (final finish flaking), you should note pressure edge work and use wear to determine in what stage the piece is. Because some of the blades in the Mullins Cache are very thin and wide, and show fine edge sharpening, I believe these Clovis blades were used as knives and scrapers until resharpening dictated the blades to become more narrow and Clovis projectile point-like in shape. They were then used as spears as well as knives. The longest piece (8 inches) had an overshot error that took off the opposite blade edge from where the percussion blow was struck. This was not intentional, but left the piece with a sharp blade edge and they would have used it as a knife. One of these blades has the classic constricting base of a Hazel or Ross County Clovis. This could have been intentional for a particular hafting purpose to use as a spear and/or as a knife.”

Leslie also notes that the longest finished piece measures 6 3/4″ and is the longest Clovis reported in Texas.

Mark Mullins is a board member for the Center for the Study of the first Americans at Texas A&M. Mark loaned this cache to Texas A&M University for study and microscopic wear analysis. He’s also has the “Fenn Clovis Cache” on loan with Texas A&M and was generous enough to share it at the recent Temple, Texas artifact show.

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11 Responses to “The Mullins Texas Clovis Cache”

  1. douglas

    02. Jul, 2010

    I have met the guy who found that cache in person, that is a misstatement about being an isolated find, he picks up killer artifacts at that particular site all the time and other clovis and paleo artifacts

  2. Shannon Graham

    02. Jul, 2010

    Douglas, True. A number of Clovis related artifacts have come from that site. It was reported that there were no other finds in the immediate area where the cache was found meaning these blades belonged to one cache and that the other Clovis points found were not in close enough association to be deemed part of the same deposit. That’s not too far from your neck of the woods is it? ~Shannon

  3. douglas

    03. Jul, 2010

    well shannon, its about 3 hours away, i was on a road trip with another collector checkin out a collection in smithville and on the way back we stopped and met the guy who found the cache, if i remember right shannon i believe he said there was other stuff found with that cache, it’s been awhile, so i could be mistaken, but man that guy sure had some nice stuff, next time i see you i’ll tell u about it!

  4. David Crain

    04. Jul, 2010

    Shannon,

    There is a lot yet to be made public about this cache. The 13 pieces are actually part of the largest Clovis cache found in North America to date. I can’t say more or they will have to kill me :-)

    Hopefully something will be published soon.

    Douglas is correct about the site being an extensive multi-component site.

    Thanks,
    David

  5. Anonymous

    05. Jul, 2010

    David,

    This article was originally published in 2005. I know additional pieces were found since this article.

    Can you elaborate as to why the find is so secretive? Is it because the cache was broken up and cache pieces were not included with the original offering. Or is because the landowner wants to maintain privacy? Or…?

    Shannon

  6. douglas

    05. Jul, 2010

    it’s just a big ol secret shannon, the site, the cache, all of it, kinda like david, i was sworn to secrecy!

  7. Anonymous

    06. Jul, 2010

    Shannon,
    I was told that the landowner doesn’t want any extra attention.
    I don’t really know a whole lot more, I’m as anxious to learn the details as anyone
    Thanks,
    David

  8. Brian Smith

    08. Aug, 2010

    one word Gault

  9. Indian Artifacts

    06. Sep, 2010

    David, you are doing a great job!

  10. johnnygarrett

    20. Sep, 2010

    hi my name is johnny,i just want to know where the best place to look in texas,for arrowheads.i live in northeasttexas.

  11. tim smith

    31. Jan, 2011

    huh gault huh? we used to dig on the south side of the spring and find lots of various paleo points

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