A recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE proposes that prehistoric hunters, particularly the Clovis people from around 13,000 years ago, utilized sharp stone points as planted pikes to hunt large animals such as mammoths and giant bison.

This research suggests that rather than throwing spears, early humans wedged the spear into the ground to maximize damage when faced with charging megafauna.

By anchoring the spear, the force of a charging mammoth would drive the weapon deeper into its body, making it a more effective hunting strategy.

Scott Byram, a co-author of the study, emphasized that this technique represents a significant innovation in hunting strategies among ancient Native Americans.

The findings indicate that Clovis points functioned similarly to modern hollow-point bullets, capable of inflicting serious injuries on large prehistoric animals.

Experimental testing revealed that Clovis spear replicas, when used as pikes, could withstand the force of an approaching animal far better than thrown or thrust spears.

The research team conducted experiments to assess how Clovis points reacted under simulated animal forces, highlighting their potential effectiveness in hunting.

The Clovis pike represents an advanced weapon technology suited for small, mobile hunter-gatherer groups navigating the challenges of Late Pleistocene North America.

The study underscores the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in archaeology, as understanding prehistoric weaponry requires insights from various fields.

While this new perspective on hunting practices may reshape our understanding of human interactions with megafauna, experts caution that more archaeological evidence is needed to confirm these theories.

Despite the lack of intact Clovis weapons, historical sources provide evidence of similar hunting techniques, suggesting a sophisticated understanding of weaponry among early humans.

Dr. Scott Byram noted that using planted pikes could generate greater force than throwing spears, making them a preferred choice against aggressive megafauna.