My discovery of Paleo Story Stone Effigies in October, 2020 identified a new, previously unobserved and unknown type of Paleo Effigy. They were discovered at Clovis sites, dating between 12,200-13,500 calendar years before present, along the shoreline of ancient Pleistocene Lake Manix, Mojave Desert, California. The first one was discovered on the surface at Harvard Hill, Mojave Desert, California, a presumed Clovis site. Additional examples have been found on the surface in the Calico Hills, California. It has been estimated by Dr. Michael Gramly that approximately 80% of the surface artifacts found in the Calico Hills are of Clovis origin. Many Clovis Biface Preforms of every manufacture stage have been found on the surface in the Calico Hills.
An Effigy is a man made sculpture that relays a model of a person or other being or animal. In the case of Paleo Story Stone Effigies the images displayed are those of Human Faces, one young and one old, and Mammoth images, also one young/baby and one old. Prior to my discovery these Paleo effigies/artifact type were unknown. They are made of all kinds of “Flaked Stone” and exhibit Paleo flaking technique. Percussion flaking was performed to strike off large flakes and Pressure flaking was utilized to provide the fine detail. The edges of Paleo Story Stone sculptures are often finely flaked to provide for the final form of the sculpture. The perimeter of these effigies were finely sculpted to form the final image. They are often “Ground” as well, to eliminate sharp edges. Natural holes and inclusions in the stone were often times utilized to form the eyes of the images. Sometimes the eyes are chipped. Percussion flaking was accomplished by striking rock against rock for large flake removal. Pressure flaking was accomplished by using a hard flaking tool such as an antler or hard bone or wood to remove the smaller, finer flakes for the final touches. In addition, these effigies are very often etched and grooved. This technique was likely accomplished by utilizing Quartz Crystals as etching/grooving tools. This Paleo flaked stone manufacture technique (etching and grooving) had been previously unidentified until my discovery.
All Paleo Story Stone Effigies display, as the final imagery/finished sculpture, both Mammoth images and Human Face images. Human Faces are often looking up from the back of the Mammoth. Faces are also imaged looking down from the Mammoth or looking forward from the Mammoth’s Head. Often Faces and Mammoth images take up the entire stone. The etching lines image the Hair of the Mammoth as well as the Hair of the Faces. This etching/grooving of Flaked stone ceases after the Paleolithic Era. No Early Archaic Flaked stone examples displaying etching and grooving have been observed. In other words, no etching or grooving techniques, used on Flaked stone artifacts, have been observed after 10,000 years before present. This is because the Mammoth had become extinct and was no longer Worshipped. These Paleo Story Stones were likely made as Offerings to the “Mammoth God”. I believe these effigy stones demonstrate a Worldwide Mammoth Cult. A sort of Religious belief worshipping the Mammoth with emphasis on the Baby Mammoth. Paleo Man may have believed that we as Humans evolved from the “Mother Mammoth. A type of “Creation” belief/tradition.
Paleo Story Stone Effigies are found on the surface of Paleo sites Worldwide. They are found in North and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. They are extremely common and numerous. They are made from every type stone including rock crystal as well as fossil stones. They are commonly made from Meteorites, Tektites, including Libyan Desert Glass, Petrified Wood, Australian Boulder Opal, Obsidian, Andara Volcanic Glass and most other rough rock material. They are also made of Pleistocene Bone, Fossil Bone, Mammoth Teeth, Fossil Coral, Ivory and other materials. The Volcanic Glass specimens are truly magnificent works of art. No doubt a favorite medium amongst Paleo Indians for the manufacture of Paleo Story Stone effigies. Paleo workmanship at it’s best. Also known as Andara Crystal Glass, XRF Testing has confirmed that this material is a naturally occurring Volcanic Glass. Before my discovery, Andara Volcanic Glass was not known as a medium for the manufacture of Paleo Artifacts. Most Andara Volcanic Glass specimens are finely flaked and etched. Much of the Andara Glass Rough specimens are actually Paleo Artifacts that were flaked and etched in Paleo times This Volcanic Glass is found in areas of volcanic activity. Much of this volcanic glass comes from Indonesia. It is also found in Arizona, USA. Specimens have also been sourced in China and Africa. Arguably, the finest known Andara/Volcanic Glass Paleo Story Stone effigies come from Mt. Shasta, California, USA. These Mt. Shasta examples display superior workmanship and are made of superior material. The most beautiful stone on the planet. They were discovered on Lady Nellie Thompson’s Mt. Shasta property in the late 1960’s. Since then many Mt. Shasta specimens have been sold worldwide. These Effigies are undoubtedly Clovis in origin. Many are in the form of Clovis Cache Offering blades. In America Paleo Story Stone Mammoth and Human Face Effigies date from 12,000-14,000 years before present, (Clovis Period) and continue back to the time of the first peopling of the Americas. (Probably around 16,000-17,000 years before present) In Eurasia Story Stone Offering Effigies go back to Homo neanderthalensis and also to Homo heidelbergensis, some 400,000+ years before present. In Africa these marvelous Face and Mammoth Effigies go back to Homo erectus,120,000-2,000,000 years before present and even further back to Homo habilis some 3.3 million years ago! This new Effigy Type will provide a whole new perspective to Paleo Archaeology. Much study remains.
Respectfully Yours,
Richard Dempsey October 2022.
