Murray Springs Clovis Site and Ancient Mammoth Hunters

Some days I'll go for a hike or simply wander through town, and I'll find myself wondering about the people who came before me. How many others have stood where I am right now? What did they see when they looked out across the valley? What worries filled their minds?

Near the San Pedro River lies the Murray Springs Clovis Site, a National Historic Landmark that has helped researchers answer some of these questions.

The San Pedro River. / Photo by Val Davidson/TSM

What is the Murray Springs Clovis Site?

Located just outside Sierra Vista, the Murray Springs Clovis Site is one of North America's most important archaeological sites. The site preserves evidence of human activity dating back nearly 13,000 years, towards the end of the Ice Age.

In 1960, Dr. Vance Haynes identified the site while conducting geological research in the San Pedro Valley, near Murray Springs. Excavation uncovered Clovis spear points alongside mammoth bones and other Ice Age animal remains.

Researchers found evidence that at least 13 mammoths were killed at the site, possibly during a single hunting event. But the mammoth bones are only part of the story, as the site continues to reshape what we know about North America's earliest inhabitants.

A drawing of a dog with a skeleton on it's back — Photo by John Cardamone on Unsplash

Scientific Importance

The significance of the Murray Springs site comes from the extraordinary combination of artifacts and animal remains found there. The discoveries have provided researchers with one of the clearest windows into the lives of the Clovis people, who are considered North America's earliest known inhabitants and are named for their distinctive fluted stone spear points.

Archaeologists uncovered Clovis points at the Murray Springs site associated with mammoth remains, providing direct evidence of hunting activity. While no one knows exactly how the hunt unfolded, researchers believe taking down a mammoth would have required planning, teamwork, and strategy. Rather than confronting these massive animals alone, Clovis hunters likely worked together to track herds, isolate vulnerable animals, and coordinate attacks using stone-tipped spears.

This mammoth kill site has provided scientists a detailed look into ancient hunters, their patterns, and their ability to coordinate and work together to hunt and gather food. Most importantly, this site provides the strongest evidence that the Clovis Hunters actively hunted mammoths.

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Walk Through History

Today, you can walk the 0.7-mile self-guided interpretive trail located within the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area. If you are interested in local history, this site is the perfect place to see where ancient hunters once stood and close the distance between past and present.

The Murray Springs Clovis Site is a profound reminder that we are not the first to build a life here. The same mountains framing our horizon today once watched over the very first footsteps of human history on this continent, tying our modern wanderings to a deep, ancient legacy rooted right beneath our feet.