Abstract The lithic record of human colonization of the Americas is sparse, scattered and ambiguous. Working outward from Clovis in time and space, I summarize and critique assemblage and distributional studies from the dual perspective of assemblage-formation and general theory. An alternative is to seek historical signals residing in fluted points that may be deciphered using new, especially morphometric, methods, and especially in continuous traits. New data always are useful, but the most urgent requirement for progress in colonization research is improved theory and practice. However Clovis originated, in the near future the most productive research may be on what it became.