Archaeologist Found Clovis Tools at 9,500 Feet

New high-altitude discoveries in the Beartooth Mountains challenge established models of glacier coverage.

Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Geography

Archaeologist Found Clovis Tools at 9,500 Feet

Live Poll

Should our understanding of history change when new evidence challenges long-held scientific theories?

Archaeologist Scott Dersam identified seven Clovis sites at high elevations in Montana, including five within the Beartooth Mountains. These findings, uncovered following a June 2022 flood, challenge the scientific assumption that these peaks were glaciated 13,000 years ago.

Why it matters

The presence of human activity at 9,500 feet suggests that ancient corridors or unglaciated basins once existed, allowing human and mammoth migration into higher terrain. This discovery forces a re-evaluation of established glacial history models for the region.

Scott Dersam documented seven Clovis sites, five of which sit in the Beartooth Mountains at 9,500 feet. This discovery stands in contrast to the Anzick site, which remains the only other widely accepted Clovis location in the state.

The players

Scott Dersam

An archaeologist who identifies prehistoric sites in Montana by documenting stone tools in situ.

Vern Waples

A collector who amassed over 2,000 artifacts from the Beartooth and Pryor Mountains.

The details

The artifacts were exposed after a June 2022 rain-on-snow event triggered flooding, which unearthed buried sediment and stone tools. Researchers utilized soil tests showing sediment exposure to sunlight between 17,000 and 22,000 years ago to date the context. Dersam practices in situ archaeology, meaning he documents findings without removing them, aiming to preserve the historical record of the Clovis culture—a prehistoric Paleo-American group characterized by distinct, fluted stone spear points.

20,000 years ago: The Pinedale Glacier reached its peak.
17,000 to 22,000 years ago: Sediment was exposed to sunlight.
13,000 years ago: Clovis people were active across the continent.
June 2014: Anzick-1 remains were reburied.
June 2022: A rain-on-snow event caused flooding in the Beartooth Mountains.

The Tech Race

For decades, the Anzick site served as the primary reference point for Clovis activity in Montana. These new high-altitude findings represent a departure from that singular focus, potentially redefining the known range of Paleo-American migration.

While these sites are not open to the public, the research validates the rich historical density of Montana's mountain regions. Residents and hikers can support preservation by documenting but leaving artifacts undisturbed if discovered in the wilderness.

The takeaway

The discovery of multiple high-altitude sites suggests that early human activity was far more geographically diverse than previously assumed. Researchers are currently working toward formal publication and peer review to confirm these findings.