Articles Understanding “Clovis” Fluted Point Variability in the Northeast: A Perspective from the Debert Site, Nova Scotia Christopher Ellis † Abstract. This paper compares fluted points from the Debert site, Nova Scotia, with assemblages of “Clovis” or “Clovis-like” fluted points from across the Midwest and Northeast regions. The focus is on compa- rison of continuous variables that previous research has suggested may be useful in dis- tinguishing regional, temporal, and artifact life-history variation. The results indicate that while Debert points are most similar to those from such sites as Vail, Maine, and Lamb, New York, they differ significantly in certain characteristics. It is also concluded that the Debert points represent a very exhausted assemblage in comparison to other reported sites. In particular, the Debert assemblage includes a large number of forms with sub-triangular outlines, which all evidence suggests represent the use and reshaping of snapped tips derived from an initial larger, more parallel-sided form. Possible explana- tions for this emphasis are suggested. Résumé. Cet article compare les pointes à cannelure provenant du site de Debert en Nouvelle Écosse avec des assemblages de pointes à cannelure « Clovis » ou « appa- rentés à Clovis » du Midwest et du Nord-Est américain. Nous mettons l’accent sur la com- paraison de variables continues qui, selon des études antérieures, aident à distinguer les variations régionales, temporelles, et celles associées aux modifications subies par l’artéfact à travers son histoire. Les résultats indiquent que même si les pointes de Debert ressemblent davantage à celles de sites comme Vail dans l’état du Maine, ou Lamb, dans l’état de New York, elles présentent des différences importantes pour certaines carac- téristiques. En comparaison avec d’autres sites étudiés, nous concluons également que les pointes de Debert sont dans l’ensemble épuisées. Notons en particulier que la collec- tion de Debert comprend un grand nombre de formes avec des contours subtriangulaires, ce qui suggère l’utilisation et le refaçonnage des extrémités fracturées provenant de formes à l’origine plus grandes et aux bords plus parallèles. Nous proposons des explica- tions possibles pour ce phénomène. I n this paper I explore some simi- larities and differences between the fluted points from the Debert site, Nova Scotia (Figure 1), and those from other locations ranging from the upper Missis- sippi drainage to New England. I com- pare the Debert points with generally large (i.e., basal widths > 20 mm), par- tially fluted and relatively parallel-sided points—points that are often referred to as “Clovis” in the broadest sense of the term. Variation beyond these basic characteristics has led some to assign the points from the assemblages exam- ined here to other types such as Enter- line, Bull Brook, or Gainey. Regardless of name, most people suggest these point forms as a whole represent the earliest dating fluted bifaces in the area † Department of Anthropology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5C2 [cjellis@uwo.ca] Canadian Journal of Archaeology/Journal Canadien d’Archéologie 28: 205–253 (2004)