Hit or miss: Do microscopic linear impact traces (MLITs) form on Clovis stone tips launched via atlatl into foliage and sediment?

Stone weapon tips can exhibit microscopic linear impact traces (MLITs), as a result of the tip impacting abrasive materials, including stone fragments from the tip itself that detached upon impact. Experiments have demonstrated that MLITs can form via the use of a variety of weapon systems, stone point types, and targets. MLITs found on North American Late Pleistocene Clovis points in association with proboscideans at the Colby and Lange/Ferguson sites are seen as evidence of those points’ having been used to hunt and strike those animals. However, there is experimental evidence to suggest that MLITs can occur for reasons other than successfully hitting a prey target. To explore alternate explanations for MLITs, we conducted an experiment whereby we launched replica Clovis points via atlatl and dart into sediment and foliage. Microwear analysis documented a total of 52 MLITs on the 10 experimental points with a range of three to eight areas of MLITs on any individual point. The MLITs this experiment generated were visually similar to those experimentally produced when Clovis points were launched into elephant carcasses. Equifinality in experimental MLIT formation suggests that multiple hypotheses can potentially explain the presence of Clovis point MLITs at Colby and Lange/Ferguson, possibly from hunting misses into sediment and foliage here or at other prior locales.