The Clovis Dig, a novel by Teri Fink and Robb Grindstaff, is both entertaining and educational. The contemporary story takes place in Eastern Washington.

Orchardist Claire Courtney is shocked when a chiseled, three-dimensional arrow-shaped rock, about ten inches long, is found while digging a new irrigation trench in her East Wenatchee, Washington orchard. Believing it must be ancient, Claire feels obligated to call her alma mater, Washington State University, and report the finding to their archaeology department.

When Native American Joe Running, Associate Professor of Archaeology at WSU learns about the find, his interest is piqued. After he visits the site, an official dig is organized, initially with Joe together with two students.

Once word spreads about the find, the Courtney Orchard is inundated with archaeologists, students, the press and onlookers. Claire’s once peaceful life is shattered. You can’t run an orchard with people milling about. In addition to the confusion, local tribal leaders come to the site, fearful that an ancient burial site will be disturbed.

But then a body is found. Not an ancient body, a relatively recent one. So now law enforcement people are swarming the area and an investigation of a different kind begins.

The Clovis Dig characters ring true and the situation believable with elements of mystery, suspense, and romance. The novel was inspired by a true archaeological find. The word “Clovis” is what archaeologists call the oldest widespread archaeological complex in North America.