Lanceolate projectile points of the Clovis complex and stemmed projectile points of the Western Stemmed Tradition first appeared in North America by ~13 thousand years (ka) ago. The origin, age, and chronological superposition of these stemmed and lanceolate traditions are unclear. At the Debra L. Friedkin site, Texas, below Folsom and Clovis horizons, we find stemmed projectile points dating from ~13.5 to ~15.5 ka ago, with a triangular lanceolate point form appearing ~14 ka ago. The sequential relationship of stemmed projectile points followed by lanceolate forms suggests that lanceolate points are derived from stemmed forms or that they originated from two separate migrations into the Americas.

Our understanding of the process of the peopling of the Americas is undergoing rapid change with new archaeological and genetic discoveries. For decades, it was believed that the first people entered the Americas ~13.5 thousand years (ka) ago via an ice-free corridor, developed the distinctive Clovis tool kit with its iconic, fluted, lanceolate projectile point, and then rapidly spread across North America, with their descendants eventually reaching South America ~12.9 ka ago. However, over the past decade, genetic studies of modern Native Americans and prehistoric skeletons have shown that the initial movement of people south of the continental ice sheets occurred as early as ~15 to ~16 ka ago and that there is genetic continuity between the first immigrants to enter the Americas and modern Native Americans ( 1 , 2 ). Archaeological studies over the last 25 years show that people successfully occupied the Americas ~14 to ~15 ka ago, in agreement with the genetic estimates. In South America, humans occupied Monte Verde, Chile, by ~14.2 ka ago ( 3 ), indicating that people must have been in North America ≥14.2 ka ago. In North America, humans were present during the period ~14 to ~15 ka ago, as documented by archaeological evidence radiocarbon dated to ~14.6 ka ago at Page-Ladson, Florida ( 4 ); ~14.2 ka ago at Paisley Caves, Oregon ( 5 ); ~14.2 and ~14.8 ka ago at Schaefer and Hebior, Wisconsin ( 6 , 7 ); and ~13.8 ka ago at Manis, Washington ( 8 ). However, the artifact assemblages from these ~14- to ~15-thousand-year-old North American sites are small and nondiagnostic, and lithic projectile points are absent. It was not until ~13 ka ago that the first recognizable and widespread North American archaeological traditions appeared, with people making lanceolate fluted points in central and eastern North America (Clovis Tradition) and others using stemmed projectile points in unglaciated western North America (Western Stemmed Tradition) ( 9 , 10 ). The connection between the artifact assemblages of the ~14- to ~15-thousand-year-old North American sites and later Clovis and Western Stemmed Traditions remains unclear. Here, we report a robust lithic projectile point assemblage from the layers dated between ~13.5 and 15.5 ka ago at the Debra L. Friedkin site, Texas ( 11 ), which has implications for the origin of both the ~13-thousand-year-old lanceolate and stemmed point traditions of North America.

RESULTS

Geology and geochronology At the Debra L. Friedkin site, we excavated 104 m2 of an area known as Block A, which is located on the second terrace flanking Buttermilk Creek (Fig. 1) (11). The Late Quaternary stratigraphy exposed by our excavations consists of colluvium resting on limestone bedrock, which in turn is buried by 1.2 to 1.4 m of unstratified clay that was deposited incrementally during overbank floods from Buttermilk Creek (Figs. 1 to 3). The archaeological record at the Friedkin site is buried in the upper portion of the floodplain clays, with up to 30 cm of archaeologically sterile sediments below the cultural horizons (Figs. 2 and 3). Fig. 1 Block A at the Debra L. Friedkin site. (A) Map showing the location of the Debra L. Friedkin site along Buttermilk Creek. The geomorphic setting of the site is shown along with the location of the excavated areas. The red-colored area is Block A. The location of the four optically stimulated luminescence (OSL)–dated columns is indicated. Solid squares and rectangles indicate the location of trenches and excavation units. T-1, Terrace 1; T-2, Terrace 2. The inset map shows the location of the Friedkin site in Texas. (B) Map of Block A excavation area and the year each area was excavated. OSL sample locations are shown. Geological sections A-A′, B-B′, and C-C′ are indicated with dashed lines and correlate with Figs. 2 and 3. Modern topographic contours are shown with elevations in meters above datum (m AD). (C) Photograph of the floodplain sediments (north wall of excavation unit N1312 E1362). Late Archaic hearth feature occurs near the top of the section, and the complete lanceolate stemmed point (AM9875-2) dating ~15 ka ago is seen in the excavation unit at the base of the wall profile. Photo Credit: Michael Waters, Texas A&M University. The radiocarbon dating method was not used to date the archaeological components at the Friedkin site because there were no carbon samples that would yield reliable and accurate ages. In situ charcoal is not preserved, and all bones are leached of collagen. Dating of bulk sediment organics was not undertaken because these ages are usually inaccurate. For example, two bulk sediment ages from the Clovis horizon (unit 3a) at Excavation Area 8 of the Gault site, located ~400 m upstream of the Friedkin site, produced ages of 7130 ± 40 radiocarbon years before the present (14C yr B.P.) (CAMS-65535; ~7.9 to ~8.0 ka ago) and 9300 ± 40 14C yr B.P. (CAMS-65986; ~10.4 to 10.6 ka ago) (12). These ages are 2 to 5 ka younger than the known age of Clovis. Instead, the OSL dating method was used to determine the age of the artifacts at the Friedkin site by dating the floodplain sediments that bury them. This method is well suited for the site because according to the geological principle of inclusions, any items, such as artifacts, in an undisturbed sedimentary deposit, such as the floodplain clays at the Friedkin site, are at least as old as the sediments that contain them. The OSL method has been used for decades to date Late Quaternary deposits and has been shown to yield accurate ages; many tests have shown that OSL ages are in agreement with radiocarbon ages (13). Luminescence dating has also been used to successfully date archaeological sites in North America such as the Clovis horizon at Pavo Real, Texas, and the Archaic, Paleoindian, and pre-Clovis horizons at the Gault site, Texas (12, 14, 15). The sediments at the Friedkin site are ideal for OSL dating because of the low-energy fluvial depositional environment. The slow incremental deposition on the floodplain and associated weak pedogenic alternation ensured solar resetting of sediment grains before burial. After burial, the sediments on the floodplain were minimally disturbed (11, 13, 16, 17). Seventy OSL ages were obtained from the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene sediments of Block A (Figs. 1 to 3 and figs. S1 to S3). Thirty-eight OSL ages were previously published (11). Here, we present 32 new OSL ages obtained in 2015 and 2016 (table S1). Bayesian analyses of all OSL ages from four sediment columns yielded modeled ages with reduced SDs (fig. S1 and table S2). The Bayesian-modeled OSL ages are used to resolve a sediment deposition chronology and associated artifact ages (Figs. 2 and 3 and table S2). Correlation of Bayesian-modeled OSL ages and time-diagnostic artifacts shows that, in most areas of the site, floodplain sediments were horizontally deposited, but slope slightly upward at the northwest end of the 2007 excavation area and downward at the southeast end of the 2016 excavation area of Block A (Figs. 1 to 3). Fig. 2 Cross section A-A′ showing the site stratigraphy, location of time-diagnostic artifacts, and Bayesian-modeled OSL ages. Archaeological time periods are as follows: Late Prehistoric/Late Archaic (LP/LA), Middle Archaic/Early Archaic (MA/EA), Late Paleoindian (LP), Folsom/Clovis, and Buttermilk Creek Complex (BCC). Some Late Prehistoric and Late Archaic artifacts appear above the profile because there are places where the ground surface is higher than the contour line along the A-A′ profile (see Fig. 1B for the location of this cross section). OSL ages from 2008 and 2015 are shown. The location of each pre-Clovis projectile point is identified, and the artifact number beginning with the designation AM allows identification of specific artifacts. This profile includes all artifacts 3.5 m west and east of the A-A′ line from 91.15 m AD to the surface because of the surface slope. All artifacts 5.5 m west and east of the A-A′ line between 90.5 and 91.5 m AD are shown because the deposits are horizontal. All artifacts 3.5 m west and east of the A-A′ line below 90.5 m AD are shown because the deposits slope to the east.

Late Prehistoric to Clovis archaeological horizons In this section, we discuss the post–13-thousand-year-old time-diagnostic artifacts and associated OSL ages from the floodplain sediments that overlie the deposits containing the pre-Clovis Buttermilk Creek Complex. This discussion provides an archaeological and chronological context for the pre-Clovis horizon and demonstrates the archaeological integrity of the deposits at the Debra L. Friedkin site and the accuracy of the OSL ages. In the upper 0.8 to 1.1 m of the floodplain sequence at Block A, we recovered over 639,000 artifacts, including over 4600 tools, of which 130 are time diagnostic (mostly projectile points). The position of the time-diagnostic artifacts is collapsed onto three transects across different portions of Block A (Figs. 2 and 3). These artifacts group into four mutually exclusive zones that correspond to the prehistoric cultural periods of central Texas (18, 19). These zones occur in chronological order, with Late Prehistoric and Late Archaic artifacts occurring near the surface, followed by a zone with only Middle Archaic and Early Archaic artifacts, then by a deeper zone with Late Paleoindian point types, and below this a zone containing only Folsom and Clovis artifacts (Figs. 2 and 3). In situ diagnostics of one zone are not found in overlying or underlying zones. Within a zone, most projectile points are in correct chronological order. This shows that there were sequential occupations on the Buttermilk Creek floodplain that were incrementally buried over time by sediment during repeated overbank events over the last 13 ka. Since burial, these zones have remained intact with minimal disturbance. Fig. 3 Cross sections B-B′ and C-C′ showing the site stratigraphy, location of time-diagnostic artifacts, and Bayesian-modeled OSL ages. Archaeological time periods are as follows: Late Prehistoric/Late Archaic (LP/LA), Middle Archaic/Early Archaic (MA/EA), Late Paleoindian (LP), Folsom/Clovis, and Buttermilk Creek Complex (BCC). Some Late Prehistoric and Late Archaic artifacts appear above the C-C′ profile because there are places where the ground surface is higher than the contour line along this transect (see Fig. 1B for the location of these cross sections). The location of each pre-Clovis projectile point is identified, and the artifact number beginning with the designation AM allows identification of specific artifacts. The B-B′ profile includes all OSL ages and artifacts from the areas excavated in 2015 and 2016. The C-C′ profile includes all OSL ages and artifacts from the areas excavated in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011. In central Texas, the Late Prehistoric period postdates ~0.65 ka ago, and the Late Archaic period dates between ~0.65 and ~4.2 ka ago (18, 19). Diagnostic artifacts associated with these two cultural periods are used as the basis for identifying a Late Prehistoric/Late Archaic zone in the uppermost portion of the site (Figs. 2 to 4). The Late Prehistoric period is recognized by 10 time-diagnostic projectile points: 7 Perdiz, 1 Scallorn, 1 Bonham, and 1 Chadbourne. The Late Archaic is represented by 35 time-diagnostic projectile points: 2 Darl, 7 Edgewood, 2 Ellis, 14 Ensor, 1 Fairland, 1 Gary, 4 Castroville, 1 Lange, 1 Pedernales, and 2 Hare bifaces. The age range of only a few of these types is known: Darl, ~0.65 to ~1.3 ka ago; Ensor and Edgewood, ~1.3 to ~2.1 ka ago; Castroville, ~2.1 to ~3.1 ka ago; and Pedernales, ~3.1 to ~4.2 ka ago (19). A single OSL age of 1000 ± 70 yr B.P. (UIC2352; Figs. 2 and 3 and table S2) was obtained from the Late Prehistoric and Late Archaic horizon associated with the Ensor and Ellis points at the Friedkin site. This age is in general agreement with the known age for these types. Forty-four Late Prehistoric and Late Archaic points are in chronological order (Figs. 2 and 3). Four points (one Pedernales, one Bonham, one Darl, and one Castroville) are out of chronological order within the Late Prehistoric and Late Archaic zone. This type of mixing of Late Prehistoric and Late Archaic point types in central Texas sites is common because of repeated use of cooking features during the Late Holocene [e.g., (18, 20)]. In the Late Prehistoric and Late Archaic zone at the Friedkin site, there are a number of burned rock features with fire-cracked rock (as seen in Fig. 1C). The reuse of these features likely accounts for mixing of the few points within this zone. In central Texas, the Middle Archaic dates between ~4.2 and ~5.7 ka ago, and the Early Archaic dates from ~5.7 to ~8.6 ka ago (18–20). In the Middle Archaic and Early Archaic zone at the Friedkin site, 15 time-diagnostic Early Archaic projectile points were recovered (Figs. 2 to 4). This horizon includes two Andice, two Wells, one Hoxie, two Baird (Early Triangular), and eight Angostura points. Most Early Archaic point types are poorly dated in Texas, but Andice is well dated to ~5.7 to ~6.0 ka ago (19). Baird (Early Triangular) points are tentatively dated to the beginning of the Middle Archaic ~5.5 to ~5.6 ka ago (19), but this type was recently dated at Hall’s Cave, Texas, to ~8.6 ka ago (21), showing that it spans both the Middle Archaic and Early Archaic. Angostura is poorly dated but is generally thought to be a long-used type spanning the Early Archaic to the Late Paleoindian periods from ~8.6 to ~10.4 ka ago (18, 22, 23). At the Friedkin site, these point styles are generally in chronostratigraphic order, with two Andice points occurring with two Wells points near the top of this zone, two Baird points below these, and eight Angostura points in the lowest portion of the Middle Archaic and Early Archaic zone. Fig. 4 Lithic artifact counts by depth and maps of diagnostic artifacts for Block A. (A) Total artifacts from 52 units with comparable data for all horizons excavated between 2009 and 2016, including all tools and debitage >0.625 cm in size, by 5-cm levels for the Late Archaic (LA), Middle/Early Archaic (MA/EA), Late Paleoindian (LP), Folsom/Clovis (F/C), and Buttermilk Creek Complex (BCC) horizons. (B) Total formal and informal tools from 52 units with comparable data for all horizons excavated from 2009 to 2016 (>0.625 cm in size) by 5-cm levels. (C) Counts of formal and informal tools from all 104 units from 2006 to 2016 (>0.625 cm in size for only the LP, F/C, and BCC layers) at 2.5-cm levels. Occurrence of artifacts below 90.15 m AD is accounted for by the slope of the BCC artifact–bearing deposits. (D) Counts of formal and informal tools from 2015 to 2016 excavations >0.625 cm in size for the LP, F/C, and BCC layers west of E1363. (E) Counts of formal and informal tools from 2015 to 2016 excavations >0.625 cm in size for the LP, F/C, and BCC layers east of E1363. (F) Horizontal distribution of diagnostic artifacts by archaeological component for Block A. Six OSL ages from the Middle Archaic and Early Archaic horizon at the Friedkin site range from 7295 ± 315 yr B.P. (UIC2360) to 9000 ± 375 yr B.P. (UIC2061; Figs. 2 and 3 and table S2). An age of 7760 ± 370 yr B.P. (BG4066) occurs in close proximity to the Baird points, and this date falls within the age range for this type (Figs. 2 and 3). Angostura points are associated with all six OSL ages; four ages overlap with the known minimum age for Angostura (~8.6 ka ago), but two OSL ages appear too young for Angostura. This suggests that either this type extends later in time or some of the Angostura points at the Friedkin site may be intrusive into the youngest Early Archaic sediments. It is not uncommon for older projectile point types to be found in a younger cultural context because prehistoric people would sometimes pick up older points from the surface and bring them to their camps. This also holds true for the Golondrina point found at the base of this layer in close proximity to the Late Paleoindian boundary. Below the Middle Archaic and Early Archaic zone is a 25-cm-thick zone with Late Paleoindian diagnostic artifacts, known to date ~9 to 12 ka ago in central Texas (18, 20, 22, 23). The Late Paleoindian zone at the Friedkin site contains five Angostura, five St. Mary Hall, nine Golondrina, and five Dalton/Dalton series points (Figs. 2 and 4). Angostura, St. Mary Hall, and Golondrina points co-occur in the upper and middle portions of the Late Paleoindian zone. These types are poorly dated, but estimates place Golondrina at ~9.6 to ~11.2 ka ago, St. Mary Hall at ~9.8 to ~11.5 ka ago, and Angostura at ~8.6 to 10.4 ka ago (18, 22, 23). These types commonly co-occur at sites such as the Wilson-Leonard site, located 40 km from the Friedkin site, where Golondrina, St. Mary Hall, and Angostura types overlap in deposits radiocarbon dated between ~9.7 and ~11.1 ka ago (20). Near and at the base of the Late Paleoindian zone at the Friedkin site are Dalton/Dalton series points that are radiocarbon dated elsewhere to between ~11.2 and ~12 ka ago (18, 22, 23). Fourteen OSL ages, ranging from 9590 ± 370 yr B.P. (UIC2363) to 11,980 ± 555 yr B.P. (UIC2048; Figs. 2 and 3 and table S2), are from the Late Paleoindian horizon at the Friedkin site. These OSL dates encompass the known ages for the various Late Paleoindian projectile point types. More specifically, 10 OSL ages ranging from 9590 ± 370 yr B.P. (UIC2363) to 10,965 ± 380 yr B.P. (BG4207; Figs. 2 and 3 and table S2) are associated with the Angostura, St. Mary Hall, and Golondrina types and overlap well with the radiocarbon ages from Wilson-Leonard and other sites where these types co-occur. The OSL ages ranging from 11,210 ± 405 yr B.P. (BG4206) to 11,980 ± 555 yr B.P. (UIC2048) occur in the zone with the Dalton/Dalton series points (Figs. 2 and 3) and again agree well with the known age for Dalton at other sites. One Dalton point was found in the middle of this zone and appears out of context. Again, it is not uncommon to find old time-diagnostic projectile points in younger contexts at sites in central Texas [e.g., (20)]. A 10-cm-thick zone with Folsom and Clovis artifacts occurs below the Late Paleoindian horizon (Figs. 2 and 3). Near the top of this zone are a Folsom point fragment and two late-stage Folsom preform flute failures (fig. S4). These Folsom artifacts are separated up to 9 m horizontally (Fig. 4F) but only 1.7 cm vertically. Underlying these Folsom lithics are time-diagnostic Clovis artifacts that include the following: (i) 1 end thinned, concave base, projectile point base (AM12018-1); (ii) 1 point midsection with channel flake scar terminations on each face (AM4447-1); (iii) 5 point fragments; (iv) 17 preforms and secondary bifaces with overshot and overface flaking, with some showing squared and beveled bases, and end thinning scars; and (v) 10 blades and blade segments (figs. S4 and S5). In addition, nine channel flakes were recovered. Seven were found within the Folsom and Clovis zone, one was found <2.5 cm below the lower boundary, and one was found <5 cm above the upper contact of this zone (Figs. 2 and 3). The Clovis point base (AM12018-1) is within 20 cm of the 2016 column of OSL ages and is bracketed by ages of 12,500 ± 480 yr B.P. (BG4209) and 12,950 ± 480 yr B.P. (BG4218). Seven ages from the Folsom-Clovis zone range from 11,980 ± 490 yr B.P. (BG4208) to 13,590 ± 720 yr B.P. (UIC2059; Figs. 2 and 3 and table S2). These ages fall within the known age range for Folsom (~12.2 to 12.7 ka ago) and Clovis (~12.7 to ~13 ka ago) (7). Overall, these results show that within the Late Prehistoric to Clovis horizons at the Friedkin site, the relative order of time-diagnostic artifacts matches the known cultural chronology for central Texas, and the known ages for time-diagnostic artifacts overlap with OSL ages.

Buttermilk Creek Complex horizon About 100,000 artifacts, including 328 tools and 12 complete and fragmentary projectile points of the Buttermilk Creek Complex, were excavated from the floodplain clays, 15 to 20 cm below the Folsom-Clovis zone (Figs. 2 to 5). These artifacts are dated to ~13.5 and ~15.5 ka ago by 19 OSL ages (table S2). The deepest floodplain clays are OSL dated to >16 ka ago (n = 13) and have no in situ artifacts (Figs. 2 and 3 and table S2) (11). The artifacts comprising the Buttermilk Creek Complex assemblage are described elsewhere (11, 24). Here, we describe the Buttermilk Creek Complex projectile point assemblage that includes lanceolate stemmed and triangular lanceolate forms (Fig. 5 and fig. S6). We also discuss the associated Buttermilk Creek Complex bifaces (fig. S7). Fig. 5 Pre-Clovis projectile points from the Debra L. Friedkin site and other sites in North America. (A) Triangular lanceolate point (AM9811-1), (B) lanceolate stemmed point (AM9875-2), (C) lanceolate stemmed point midsection with base and blade sections (AM12017-1), (D) lanceolate stemmed point midsection with base and blade sections (AM6233-1), (E) lanceolate stemmed point midsection with base and blade sections (AM12271-1), (F) point tip (AM4668-6), (G) lanceolate stemmed point base (AM8286-16), (H) point midsection (AM4819-7), (I) beveled point tip (AM12170-1), (J) beveled point tip (AM8380-3), (K) beveled point tip midsection (AM12029-2), and (L) point tip (AM12274-13). (M) Point from Iztapan Mammoth II, Mexico [from (29)], (N) point from Iztapan Mammoth II, Mexico [from (29)], (O) point from Iztapan Mammoth I, Mexico [from (29)], and (P) Miller point from Meadowcroft Rockshelter, Pennsylvania. Lanceolate stemmed points include one complete specimen, one base fragment, four medial fragments, and five tips (Fig. 5, fig. S6, and table S3). The complete point (AM9875-2) was resharpened but appears to reflect its original size and morphology. The blade of the point is alternately beveled with convex lateral edges. The hafting element is stemmed with ground concave lateral edges and a ground concave base that was thinned by removing multiple short flakes from each face. The base fragment (AM8286-16) has a contracting stem with a subtle concave base. The edges and base of the stem are ground. A subtle shoulder is present where the blade expands outward from the base. The four medial fragments (AM12017-1, AM6233-1, AM12271-1, and AM4819-7) repeat the characteristics of the complete specimen with a beveled blade and a ground and contracting stem. These fragments show that as resharpening occurred, the blades became beveled and indented relative to the base. Four point tips (AM12029-2, AM8380-3, AM4668-6, and AM12170-1) are alternately beveled and are consistent with the morphology of the blades displayed by the complete point and three medial fragments. Distal fragment AM12274-13 is not beveled. All specimens show microscopic use-wear consistent with hafting and use as projectile points (fig. S8). It is important to note that lanceolate stemmed points are confined exclusively to the Buttermilk Creek Complex horizon; none are found in the post–13-thousand-year-old sediments. The lanceolate stemmed points of the Buttermilk Creek Complex closely resemble an undated Texas projectile point type defined as “Early Stemmed Lanceolate” (25). Lanceolate stemmed points at the Friedkin site are confined to the clays dating between ~13.5 and ~15.5 ka ago (Figs. 2 and 3 and table S2). Seven of the 11 projectile points and point fragments occur in close proximity to specific OSL ages. Three OSL ages temporally bracket the complete point (AM9875-2) that rested horizontally on older floodplain clays; the two ages below the point are 18,480 ± 880 yr B.P. (BG3994) and 19,410 ± 650 yr B.P. (BG4076), and, at 3 cm above this point, the age is 15,190 ± 465 yr B.P. (BG3995). Likewise, a beveled point tip midsection (AM12029-2) was bracketed by these same three ages. One medial point fragment (AM12271-1) lies 50 cm horizontally from the age of 15,035 ± 530 yr B.P. (BG4263), one point tip (AM12274-13) lies 50 cm away from the age of 15,470 ± 590 yr B.P. (BG4238), and one medial fragment (AM12017-1) lies between ages 13,280 ± 500 yr B.P. (BG4219) and 13,920 ± 540 yr B.P. (BG4220). Another point tip (AM4668-6) lies 65 cm west of the 2008 column of OSL ages and between sediments dated to 13,565 ± 465 yr B.P. (UIC2354) and 14,235 ± 375 yr B.P. (UIC2367) and at the same elevation as sediments dated to 13,565 ± 465 yr B.P. (UIC2354). A point midsection (AM4819-7) lies 1 m north of the 2008 column of OSL ages, is bracketed between ages 14,315 ± 360 yr B.P. (UIC2369) and 14,980 ± 445 yr B.P. (UIC2359), and is at the same elevation and in the same sediments that yielded an age of 14,475 ± 365 yr B.P. (UIC2350). The other point fragments (AM12170-1, AM6233-1, AM8380-3, and AM8286-16) occur 2.4 to 5.3 m from the nearest OSL column. These points lie in the horizon dated between ~13.5 and ~15.5 ka ago. A broken triangular lanceolate projectile point (AM9811-1) occurs in the uppermost portion of the clays ranging in age from ~13.5 to ~14 ka ago, below the Clovis horizon (Fig. 5A, fig. S6, and table S3). This point lacks the distal tip due to a diagonal snap fracture that probably resulted from impact. The remaining lateral blade edges are gently concave with a pronounced alternate bevel. The haft element has straight lateral edges that expand outward with a concave base. The haft edges and base are ground. The base is thinned on both sides by irregular, flute-like flakes that extend upward. This point was heavily used and resharpened; use-wear analysis shows that it was hafted and used as a projectile (fig. S8). This point was found at the same elevation and 1 m south of the OSL age 14,270 ± 365 yr B.P. (BG4017). A second age 13,625 ± 455 yr B.P. (BG4019) was obtained 4.5 cm above the point. Forty late-stage biface fragments were found in the ~13.5- to ~15.5-thousand-year-old sediments. Of these, 13 are large enough to provide insights into the production of stemmed lanceolate points (fig. S7 and table S3). Most flake scars on these bifaces terminate at the midline, but five bifaces show flakes crossing over the midline of the biface (overface flaking) and two display a rolled edge from an overshot flake removal. Two overshot flakes were found in the same deposits. The bifaces show no evidence of end thinning or preparation of a beveled base for later fluting. All bifaces are plano-convex in cross section, indicating that lanceolate stemmed points were made from flake blanks that were bifacially reduced by lateral thinning. Similarities and differences exist between the pre–13-thousand-year-old and Clovis bifaces at the Friedkin site. Both exhibit overface and overshot flaking, reflecting similar biface thinning strategies; however, these flaking techniques were used with greater frequency to produce Clovis preforms. End thinning and base beveling in preparation for end thinning found on Clovis preforms are absent in the pre–13-thousand-year-old biface assemblage. The pre–13-thousand-year-old bifaces are predominately made on large flake blanks, whereas the Clovis bifaces were made from both nodules and flake blanks. In addition to the points and other bifaces, the ~13.5- to ~15.5-thousand-year-old assemblage at the Friedkin site also includes blade segments, bladelets, scrapers, bifacial discoidal cores, and snap fracture tools (radial and bend break) most commonly made on flakes but also bifaces, retouched flakes, expedient tools, and ground hematite. This assemblage, combined with the newly described projectile points, makes up the Buttermilk Creek Complex (11, 24). This assemblage compares well with the pre-Clovis assemblage from the Gault site (15).