Folsom

views updated May 17 2018

Folsom a Palaeo-Indian culture of Central and North America, dated to about 10,500–8,000 years ago. The culture is distinguished by fluted stone projectile points or spearheads (Folsom points), the discovery of which (in 1926) forced a radical rethinking of the date at which humans first inhabited the New World. The name comes (in the early 20th century) from Folsom, New Mexico, the area where remains were first found.