Buttermilk Creek Complex, Archaeological site in Bell County, Texas.
This archaeological site contains over 15,000 artifacts including projectile points, blades, and choppers created by ancient hunter-gatherers using local chert material from the surrounding area.
Excavations revealed evidence of human occupation dating back approximately 15,500 years, predating the traditionally accepted Clovis culture by roughly 2,000 years and challenging established migration theories.
The site demonstrates advanced stone tool-making techniques including triangular lanceolate points and stemmed points, showing sophisticated technological adaptations by early North American inhabitants during the late Pleistocene era.
Located at an elevation of 183 meters near Salado, the site is approximately 40 miles northwest of Austin and continues to serve as an active research location for archaeological investigations.
The discovery represents one of the oldest confirmed human settlements in North America, with optically stimulated luminescence dating techniques providing evidence that challenges the Clovis-first model of continental peopling.
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