Clovis-first and pre-Clovis archaeology

Record summary

AI-recalled lead: The Clovis-first debate concerns whether Clovis technology represents the earliest widespread human presence in the Americas or whether securely dated earlier occupations existed. It is identifiable through discussions of sites such as Monte Verde, Paisley Caves, Cooper’s Ferry, Page-Ladson, and the Bluefish Caves. The controversy matters for comparing dating methods, site formation, lithic interpretation, and migration models. Consensus has shifted away from a strict Clovis-first position, but the dates, cultural attribution, and evidential strength of individual pre-Clovis claims remain uneven.