Tracing Clovis landscapes: Chert sourcing at the Copelin Valley site in Kentucky.

This study conducts a raw material sourcing analysis of Clovis lithic artifacts from Copelin Valley, Hart County, Kentucky, a key Clovis occupation site. Over a decade of documenting private collections and recent archaeological investigations confirm the site's significance within the Paleoindian landscape. Using reflectance spectroscopy, a non-destructive technique, this research assesses chert source probabilities for over 100 Clovis points and tools. By integrating spectral data with geological sourcing frameworks, this study examines raw material procurement strategies and their implications for Clovis mobility and settlement. The findings reveal patterns in material selection, shedding light on occupation intensity, technological organization, and landscape use in the Copelin Valley. This thesis investigates whether Copelin Valley’s Clovis inhabitants primarily relied on local Sonora chert for tool production and whether non-local materials were imported into the valley, reflecting broader mobility patterns.