Archaeologist Found Clovis Tools in Montana Mountains

Scott Dersam discovered seven Clovis culture sites at high elevations, challenging long-standing theories on glacial coverage.

Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Geography

A weathered stone projectile point half-buried in dark mountain soil and gravel, representative of prehistoric archaeological findings in alpine terrain. — Archaeologist Scott Dersam discovered seven Clovis culture stone tools at 9,500 feet in Montana, suggesting early human presence in high-altitude glacial regions. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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

Archaeologist Scott Dersam discovered seven Clovis culture stone tools at 9,500 feet elevation within the Beartooth Mountains. The findings indicate that early humans may have accessed these high-altitude regions much earlier than previously assumed by the scientific community.

Why it matters

This discovery challenges the long-held scientific belief that high-elevation mountain regions were covered by glaciers 13,000 years ago. The evidence suggests that unglaciated basins or narrow ice corridors may have allowed humans and mammoths to thrive in the area.

Scott Dersam discovered seven Clovis sites at high elevations, including five sites located specifically in the Beartooth Mountains at 9,500 feet. Soil tests indicate that the surrounding sediment was exposed to sunlight between 17,000 and 22,000 years ago.

The players

Scott Dersam

Scott Dersam is an archaeologist who conducts off-site research by documenting his findings in situ instead of removing artifacts.

Vern Waples

Vern Waples is a collector who amassed more than 2,000 artifacts from the Beartooth and Pryor Mountains.

The details

The discovery occurred after a June 2022 rain-on-snow event caused flooding that unearthed buried artifacts and sediment. Scott Dersam documented the findings in situ, including a Clovis point base found inside an ancient hearth, rather than removing them from the site.

20,000 years ago: 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: Rain-on-snow event caused flooding in Beartooth Mountains.

The Big Picture

The discovery of these sites marks a significant departure from the long-standing reliance on the Anzick site as the only accepted Clovis location in Montana. This shift forces a re-evaluation of how archaeologists understand human migration and glacial history in the region.

These findings could fundamentally alter how historians understand human migration patterns across high-altitude environments in the American West. Future research may lead to a more comprehensive mapping of early human survival strategies in previously inaccessible alpine zones.

The takeaway

The study of glacial retreat and human settlement suggests that high-altitude environments were more accessible to early populations than formerly believed. Residents and visitors interested in local history should respect these sites as they are critical for ongoing scientific research.