Lehner Mammoth Kill Site: A Window to the Clovis Culture

The Lehner Mammoth Kill Site, located near Hereford, Arizona, is a National Historic Landmark that provides a unique window into the distant past. In 1952, rancher Ed Lehner discovered large bones eroding from a wash on his property, leading to the unearthing of one of the best-preserved mammoth hunting sites in the New World. Excavations in the 1950s and 1970s revealed the remains of at least nine immature mammoths, along with bison, horse, tapir, and camel bones, all bearing marks of butchering. Archaeologists also found 13 Clovis spear points and various cutting and scraping tools, confirming that humans hunted these animals. The site also contained definable fire hearths, the first found at a Clovis site, providing the first radiocarbon dates for the culture (9,000 BCE). Today, the Lehner Mammoth Kill Site is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. While the original bones and artifacts are no longer visible on-site, the location is marked with signs and offers a place for quiet reflection on the ancient history of the San Pedro Valley. It serves as a reminder of the Clovis people, their hunting practices, and the diverse megafauna that once thrived in this region.