Prehistoric hunters, specifically the Clovis people from about 13,000 years ago, may have used planted pikes to hunt giant animals like mammoths and bison. Researchers suggest these hunters placed sharp stone points in the ground to impale charging creatures, a method seen in various cultures for thousands of years. This technique could generate more force than hand-thrust or thrown spears. Experiments with replicas showed Clovis points could pierce cowhide but would break against hard surfaces like bone. Historical sources support the use of ground-braced weapons for hunting large animals and defense.