Thomas Williams

Tom Williams - BA (Hons), MA

Department: Archaeology
Discipline: Archaeology

Project Summary

The Solutrean-Clovis connection is arguably the most controversial theory on the first human presence in the Americas. Stanford and Bradley maintain that this connection does not represent the whole scale migration, but the transmission of certain technological ideas. The primary focus of their research has been the bifacial technologies of the Solutrean and Clovis industries. Whilst they conclude that blade technologies also share the same degree of similarity, this assertion is unsupported. By focusing on the blade technologies from Clovis and the Solutrean, as well as some of the relevant blade technologies, this thesis will specifically examining traits in technolgoical production sequences, platform preparation and core maintenance. This research aims to identify possible cultural trajectories in Clovis assemblages. Comparative studies, such as this, will help contribute to a greater understanding of Clovis and Solutrean blade technologies and challenge the assertions of Stanford and Bradley.

 

Supervisory Team

Prof. Bruce Bradley - Associate Professor of Experimental Archaeology Dr. Linda Hurcombe - Senior Lecturer