— "Clovis" was not a designation used by ancient Native Americans themselves.  The term was first used by archaeologists to describe a distinct lithic tradition in prehistoric North America.  The early Clovis people lived about 11-13,000 years ago.

 

— Clovis points were found in the 1920s and 1930s at Blackwater Draw  near Clovis, New Mexico.  The artifacts were found in association with the remains of extinct bison, camels, and mammoths.  This important discovery later gave rise to terms like Clovis points, Clovis technology, Clovis culture, and Clovis people.

 

— Mysterious “Clovis caches” have been unearthed in various parts of the American West.  These caches consist of odd groupings of Clovis spear points, blades, and other stone tools.  Often they are buried together and covered with red ochre.  Debate continues as to the true purpose of these “Clovis caches.”  

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— One of the oldest Clovis caches in North America was discovered near Beach, North Dakota, in 1970. More than 100 Clovis artifacts eventually were uncovered at this site.  From bits of charcoal found in the cache area, archeologists determined that the Beach, North Dakota site was more than 13,000 years old. 

 

— Clovis I (“Chlodwig” or “Chlodbert”) lived in western Europe from 466-511 AD.  He was a powerful tribal leader who became the first Catholic king of the Franks.

 

— Clotilde, the wife of Clovis I, is revered as a special saint in France.  She lived from 475-545 AD.  Her feast day is June 3rd.

 

— St. Cloud, who lived from 520-560 AD, was the grandson of Clovis I.  Cloud had no interest in wealth or the Frankish throne.  Instead, he took a vow of poverty and lived as a pious Catholic monk.  His feast day is September 7.

 

— “Clovis” is a first name usually associated with males.  It is an early French form of the names Ludwig, Louis, Louie, and Lewis.

 

— The famous French writer Jules Verne penned an “adventure novel” in 1896 entitled Clovis Dardentor.

 

— Clovis Maksoud (1926-2016) was a Lebanese-American and native Oklahoman who became a well-known journalist and diplomat.  He worked with several American presidents, including John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and George H. W. Bush.

 

— Clovis is the name of a city in Fresno County, California.  It was founded in 1890.  The current population is about 107,000.  The city’s motto is “Gateway to the Sierras.”

 

— Clovis is also the name of a city in eastern New Mexico that was founded in 1909.  The population today is about 40,000.  The city’s motto is:  “A City on the Move—Come Grow with Us!”

 

— Rock n’ Roll legend Buddy Holly recorded his hit songs “That’ll Be the Day” and “Peggy Sue” in Clovis, New Mexico, in 1957.

 

— Other well-known recording artists who cut records in Clovis, New Mexico, include Waylon Jennings and Roy Orbison.

 

— Clovis, New Mexico, was one of the main settings for the 2016 movie "Hell or High Water," starring the Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges.

 

— In his book Centennial  (1974), novelist James A. Michener professed his “love” for the prehistoric Clovis point and even compared its beauty to the Romanesque architecture of Italy and western Europe.

 

— The second book published by Clovis House is the novel Once Upon the River Platte by Timothy J. Kloberdanz.  The Platte River country was well-known to ancient Clovis peoples, as evidenced by the numerous Clovis points found along the Platte, North Platte, and South Platte Rivers.  Often these Clovis points are made of beautiful agate and have become water-polished over many thousands of years. 

   

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