Part 1

Early Man Projectile Points in the Southwest

MUSEUM OF NEW MEXICO PRESS POPULAR SERIES PAMPHLET NO. 4

EARLY MAN PROJECTILE POINTS IN THE SOUTHWEST _by Kenneth Honea_

INTRODUCTION

The cultures of Early Man in the Southwest, though yet imperfectly known, seem most readily distinguishable by characteristic types of projectile points. The majority of finds, and they are rare, have been made on the surface; much less often at camp or kill sites.

Camp sites were situated on ridges, in sand dunes, or on hills overlooking streams, lakes, or ponds. Occupational features generally include hearths, split and charred food bones, debris from stone tool manufacturing, and a full inventory of stone tools. Seeds, grinding stones, storage and cooking pits are rarely found at such early sites.

Kill sites, by contrast, are usually situated on the edges of streams, lakes, or ponds. Features will include animal skeletons, sometimes partially dismembered, points used in killing game, some stone butchering tools such as scrapers, knives, utilized flakes, and waste flakes resulting from the sharpening of stone tools. Preferred parts of game may be missing, indicating they were carried back to camp. Hearths are occasionally found at kill sites, indicating that part of the game may have been prepared there.

Points used by Early Man were likely thrown at game with a spear-thrower or atl-atl, rather than shot at them with a bow and arrow. Atl-atls were probably of wood, and had a long groove on one side. Into this groove was placed the spear with a point hafted onto one end. The atl-atl was thrust back and thrown forward, releasing the spear on the forward thrust.

On the basis of findings, archaeologists have reconstructed two widespread methods of hunting by Early Man. In the first instance, game was observed, stalked and killed at watering places. In the second, game was driven into an arroyo, stream, lake, or pond, or stampeded over a cliff.

EARLY MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES

It is a curious fact that Early Southwestern Man most often made his tools of very finely textured stone. Perhaps this custom was induced by the exacting, finely controlled technologies of stone flaking practiced and the kinds of tools made. Indeed, workmanship on many projectile points, knives, and scrapers is so well achieved that one is led to believe that Early Man strove to express some degree of esthetic idealism in his tools.

Demands in technology often led to the widespread trading of choice materials. The best known of these is from the alibates quarries near Amarillo in the Texas Panhandle. Fine quality flint from this locality has been found at Early Man sites as far west as Arizona and as far north as Wyoming and Montana.

Early man prepared point “blanks” by the striking of suitable primary flakes by direct percussion from a block of stone, the core. The striker consisted either of a hard subround hammerstone, or a cylinder-hammer of soft stone, bone, antler, or hard wood. Flakes driven off by the former were usually thicker at one end. Those produced in the second instance were relatively thin throughout their length. Long flakes or “blades” were also often used as blanks, especially in the making of long projectile points. They could be detached from cores with either of the above strikers, or by holding a bone or stone “punch” on an edge of a core and striking the top of the punch with a hammerstone. This is a form of indirect percussion. Blades were also produced by what has been called impulsive pressure. A bone, antler, or stone-tipped crutch was applied to an edge of a core, and pressed downwards with the chest, driving off a blade.

Often cores were pre-shaped before the striking or pressing off of flakes or blades by what is termed the “Levallois technique.” A block of stone was initially trimmed on both faces into a round, oval, or triangular shape. Either one or a series of flakes or blades were then driven off one or both faces of the core, using any of the above percussion or pressure instruments. A distinct advantage to the technique was that the upper face of the detached flake or blade blanks had already been trimmed in the process of initial preparation of the core. This same preparation also predetermined to a large extent the shape of blanks produced in the Levallois technique.

The processes by which appropriate blanks were turned into finished projectile points involved several manufacturing stages and one or a combination of flaking techniques. The techniques employed consisted of direct or indirect percussion, using a hammerstone, cylinder-hammer, or punch, and direct or indirect pressure, using a crutch, an animal claw or tooth, the edge of a length of bone, antler, or stone.

The principal manufacturing stages include: 1) over-all initial shaping by the careful thinning of both faces of the blank; 2) secondary trimming of lateral and basal edges, including eventual fluting; and 3) smoothing by grinding of lateral and basal edges.

As will later be seen in the descriptions, special kinds of initial flaking, or facial thinning, are often characteristically associated with certain Early Man points. On some, flaking may conform to traditional patterns, while on others it may be irregular. The following kinds of initial flake scars are distinguished:

_Irregular_: flake scars are of irregular shape, and they are in no particular alignment to one another or the point long-axis.

_Transverse_: long, parallel flake scars are horizontal, or nearly so, to the point long-axis; opposite flake scars end smoothly near the point center line, appearing to form a continuous flake scar across the point face.

_Collateral_: similar to transverse flaking, except that opposite flake scars end abruptly near the point center line, forming in some cases a central ridge.

_Oblique_: long, parallel flake scars are oblique or slanted in relation to the point long-axis.

BLANCO POINTS

To be counted possibly among the earliest projectile point types of the Southwest are what have been called Blanco points, named after the Blanco River of Central Texas. They were discovered by the writer, along with other stone and bone tools, in alluvial banks and other formations which in part may have accumulated during the Late Pleistocene. Lanceolate-shaped points from type localities are characteristically desert varnished and have been dulled and battered by being washed about in stream gravels. Heavily weathered points quite like those of the Blanco type have been reported in other parts of Texas and also in central and southeast New Mexico. They have also been recovered from a number of sites in Mexico and South America under circumstances that seem to suggest great antiquity. The eminent American archaeologist, Marie Wormington, has suggested that points much like those of our Blanco type may well have been the basic type from which later Early Man points evolved.

Blanco points are lanceolate-shaped and are broadest at or somewhat below mid-section. The cross-section at this point is a flattened oval shape. Lateral edges are slightly rounded, converging to a point at the tip, while the base is round. The few known specimens range in length from about 4.0 to 6.0 cm., in width from 2.0 to 2.5 cm., and in thickness 0.7 to 1.0 cm. Specimens having dimensions somewhat in excess of those listed may be expected. Manufacture is by direct percussion and is not particularly well achieved nor patterned. Initial flake scars on point faces are irregular; point bases have been thinned by multi-directional flaking. Pressure working of edges is absent. Due to intense weatherings, it is not known whether Blanco points were basally ground.

Blanco points are associated in central Texas with the San Marcos Complex. They may represent a primary Early Man projectile point type. Undisturbed San Marcos sites have not been found as yet. Tools ascribed to this complex have been found only in secondary gravel beds at type localities along the Blanco River. It is conceivable that some of these formations may have accumulated during the Late Pleistocene. In view of all factors, dating of Blanco points relative to other Early Man points must await future excavations.

SANDIA I POINTS

This projectile point type was named after the type site, Sandia Cave, situated at the north end of the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Such points have also been found at the Lucy Site in Central New Mexico, in Central Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, and possibly Alabama, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

Sandia I points are lanceolate in shape and may be somewhat asymmetrical in outline. They are distinctive in having a single shoulder on one side of the stem. Gently rounded lateral edges on the upper portion taper to a point, while the rounded stem edges taper to the somewhat narrow, rounded base. Specimens are broadest somewhat below mid-section and have a lenticular cross section at this point. Both the stem and the base have been smoothed by grinding. Total length may vary from about 6.0 to 9.0 cm., and width from 2.0 to 4.0 cm. Manufacture was evidently by direct percussion and not as refined as on some later Early Man Points. Initial flake scars on point faces are irregular; point bases have been thinned by multi-directional flaking. Pressure retouch is absent.

Sandia I projectile points are accepted by most archaeologists as among the oldest documented, though not reliably dated, point types of the Southwest and North America in general. Similarly, the relationship of Sandia points to Clovis and other Early Man point types has not yet been clearly established. That Sandia points are older than Folsom points does remain certain, however. They may also be older than Clovis points.

SANDIA II POINTS

Sandia II points were discovered together with Sandia I points at Sandia Cave near Albuquerque, New Mexico. They differ from Sandia I points in a number of respects.

Single-shouldered Sandia II points are quite similar to those of the type Sandia I excepting details on the stem, base shape and certain aspects of workmanship. Instead of tapering to a rounded base, the straight-edged stem of Sandia II points contracts to a straight or slightly concave base. Workmanship is generally finer than in the other type, though achieved by the same means. Resolved secondary edge thinning is noticeable on many specimens. Sandia II points are also marked by vertical basal thinning, produced by the removal of a large, or several smaller longish flakes parallel to the point long-axis, anticipating perhaps the fluting found on Clovis and Folsom points. Vertical basal thinning is absent on points of the Sandia I type.

SANDIA III POINTS

Sandia III points were discovered in 1954 together with Sandia I, Sandia II, and other Early Man points in a series of blow-outs near Lucy, central New Mexico.

Single-shouldered Sandia III points are similar in all respects to Sandia II points with these exceptions: the base on specimens of the Sandia III type is consistently deeply concave, and the stem portion is always vertically fluted.

CLOVIS POINTS

Clovis points are named after the type site located near Clovis, New Mexico. They were found associated with the remains of mammoth and other extinct animal forms in gravels at the bottom of a Late Pleistocene pond. This site is counted among the most important archaeological discoveries of the New World. The series of culture layers excavated from above the one containing Clovis material give the most complete sequence of Early Man cultures yet found at a single site.

Clovis points are symmetrically lanceolate in outline and are broadest near mid-section or sometimes nearer to the tip. Upper lateral edges of the point body are slightly rounded. Lower lateral edges are commonly straight or slightly rounded and they may taper somewhat towards the consistently concave base. On some examples, the lateral edges near the base may be gently recurved. Both the basal concavity and the lateral edges are smoothed by intentional grinding. The characteristic flutes were struck vertically from only one or from both faces. In the latter case, they may not be of equal length. The longest flute usually does not extend up further from the base than about half the length of the point. Nonetheless, specimens are known on which fluting extends up almost the entire length of a face. Flaking on Clovis points was probably by direct percussion; lateral edges of some may have been thinned by secondary pressure retouch. Initial flake scars on point faces are irregular. Fluting was achieved by the removal of either one or a series of long flakes parallel to the point long-axis, possibly by indirect percussion. Dimensions are variable. Clovis points in the broader Southwest may range from nearly 3.5 to 14.0 cm. in length, and in width from about 2.0 to 4.0 cm.

Radio carbon dates and geologic evidence obtained in recent years indicate Clovis points were in use by Early Man between about 11,000 and 11,500 years ago in the Southwest. Though older than Folsom points, there evidently was a period towards the end of the Clovis sequence, during which both Clovis and Folsom points were made and used. Clovis points have been found with the remains of extinct Pleistocene fauna, primarily mammoth, not only at the type locality, but at sites near Angus, Nebraska; Dent, Colorado; Miami, Texas; and Naco, Arizona. Finds of such points, mostly on the surface, have also been made in northern Mexico, California, on the eastern seaboard, in the Midwest, Canada, and Alaska.

Small Clovis points may be confused with Folsom points. However, Clovis points are both thicker and heavier; flutes do not ordinarily extend up the entire face, and workmanship is not as fine as on Folsom points. Also, Folsom points often have a small nipple in the middle of the basal concavity, a feature lacking on Clovis points.

FOLSOM POINTS

Folsom points were first discovered in the twenties at an Early Man kill site near Folsom, in northeast New Mexico. The points were associated with the remains of an extinct form of giant Late Pleistocene bison. These finds were among the first to demonstrate the great antiquity of man in the New World.

Folsom points are symmetrically lanceolate in shape, and are broadest at mid-section or somewhat nearer to the tip. They are fluted on either one or both faces; flutes usually extend up almost an entire face. Upper lateral edges are ordinarily gently rounded, while the lower lateral edges are usually straight and either parallel-sided or slightly contracting towards the base. The base is consistently concave, in some examples, markedly so. Similar to Clovis points, stem edges near the base may be gently recurved. Average dimensions are: length 3.0 to 8.0 cm., but averaging 3.0 to about 5.0 cm., and width from about 1.5 to nearly 3.0 cm. Workmanship is usually quite delicate, with initial shaping by either direct or indirect percussion or pressure. Initial flake scars on point faces, where preserved are irregular. Delicate secondary edge thinning was by pressure, during which the basal concavity was probably produced and a nipple left preparatory to fluting. Vertical fluting was probably produced by indirect percussion.

The latest research suggests that Folsom points may be dated between 10,000 and 11,000 years ago. Excavated sites producing Folsom points have in most all cases also produced the remains of giant bison, but not mammoth, which may have become extinct by the advent of Folsom Man. Folsom points have been discovered in both excavated and surface sites in most parts of the Southwest, including the Clovis type site in eastern New Mexico, numerous sites in most other portions of New Mexico, at the Lubbock, Lipscomb, Scharbauer, and Kincaid Sites in Texas, the Lindenmeier, Linger, and Powars Sites in Colorado, the Hell Gap Site in Wyoming and the MacHaffie Site in Montana.

HELL GAP POINTS

This recently defined Early Man projectile point has been named after a group of quarry sites in the Hell Cap Valley near Guernsey in east-central Wyoming.

Hell Gap points, similar to many other Early Man types, are essentially lanceolate-shaped. Upper lateral edges are slightly rounded, while lower lateral edges taper in straight lines to the generally narrow, slightly to noticeably rounded, occasionally nearly straight base. These points are commonly broadest at mid-section, but examples are known which are broadest a little below this point. Lower lateral edges are offset from the broadest section to such a degree that one is inclined to consider Hell Gap points stemmed. Dimensions are: length 4.5 to 8.8 cm., and width 2.0 to 3.0 cm. Workmanship is not nearly as fine as on Folsom points. Flaking was produced by direct percussion, with occasional secondary edge trimming by pressure. Initial flake scars on point faces are irregular; basal thinning was accomplished by multi-directional flaking. The stem and base are smoothed through grinding; basal smoothing may be absent on some specimens.

Surface specimens have been found in many parts of Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Similar points are also known from California and parts of Texas. The most northerly known occurrence is Alberta, in Canada.

MIDLAND POINTS

Midland points were first discovered at the Scharbauer Site near Midland, in West Texas. They were evidently contemporaneous with Folsom points, which they greatly resemble.

Formal description of Midland points has not yet been made. They are mentioned, however, as appearing a great deal like Folsom points in shape, size, and thinness, but are distinct from them in not being fluted. Otherwise they are apparently of the same fine workmanship and technological tradition as Folsom points.

Deposits in which a Midland point fragment was found with human remains at the Scharbauer Site have been dated to about 11,000 years ago, indicating a time range for this point type corresponding to that of Folsom. Similar points have been found near Lubbock, Texas; central New Mexico; and as far east as San Augustine County, Texas. Possibly they will be found to occur in other districts on or near the Llano Estacado. Quite frequently they are found together with Folsom points in west Texas and New Mexico localities.

PLAINVIEW POINTS

Plainview points were first defined on the basis of type specimens recovered from a bison kill site near Plainview in the Texas Panhandle.

Lanceolate shaped, the upper lateral edges of the most Plainview points are slightly rounded but on some they are straight. Lower lateral edges are ordinarily straight and parallel-sided up to about one-half or three-quarters the distance from the base to the tip. They are usually broadest at mid-section. A variation in shape may include a recurve, rarely marked, of lateral edges near the base; such specimens are broadest either at or somewhat above the mid-section (see also the description of Golondrina points). The base of Plainview points varies from slightly to markedly concave; the former is typical. Workmanship is quite fine. Direct or indirect percussion or possibly pressure action is employed in retouching. Initial flake scars may be at either right angles or slightly oblique to the point long-axis. Though individual initial flake scars may be parallel, they are more often irregular. Dimensions of Plainview points are: length about 4.5 to 8.0 cm., width 1.8 to 2.8 cm. Bases of these points were sometimes thinned by the removal of the series of relatively large, longish flakes parallel to the point long-axis in a technique reminiscent of fluting. Others however, were basally thinned by the removal of flakes from the lower lateral edges at right angles to the point long-axis. Basal edges are usually smoothed.

Plainview points are considered by most archaeologists to date around 9,000 to 10,000 years ago. At both the type site and at the Lone Wolf Creek Site in Texas, they were associated with the remains of extinct bison.

MILNESAND POINTS

Milnesand points were first recorded at a site near Milnesand, New Mexico.

Lanceolate in shape, Milnesand points are broadest either at mid-section or somewhat above. Upper lateral edges are slightly to markedly rounded, while the lower edges are straight and taper a little towards the typically straight base. Bases on some may be slightly rounded or concave. Average dimensions are: length 5.0 to 8.0 cm., width 2.0 to nearly 3.0 cm. Workmanship is generally quite fine, and has been achieved with either direct or indirect percussion, or possibly pressure. Secondary thinning of both lateral and basal edges often occurs and is by pressure. Initial flaking of point faces is patterned: transverse flake scars are approximately parallel to one another and at right angles to the point long-axis. These scars terminate at the point mid-line; some specimens may have a distinct median ridge on one or both faces. Horizontal basal thinning, accomplished primarily during initial flaking may be accompanied by the removal of small flakes vertical to the point long-axis. Both the lower lateral edges and base are carefully smoothed.

Milnesand points at the type site were found with the remains of bison, possibly an extinct form. They occur widely in eastern New Mexico and western Texas. Others have been found in Nebraska, Iowa, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Alaska. Similarities of Milnesand to Plainview points have been noted by archaeologists, who have suggested the two may be related and probably were partly contemporaneous. They may be distinguished from one another by the following attributes: The base on most Milnesand points is straight, while it is predominantly concave on Plainviews; thinning of Plainview bases was accomplished primarily by the removing of a few, fairly large vertical flakes, while Milnesand bases were thinned primarily by the removal of horizontal flakes, and only secondarily by the removal of small flakes. Finally, the smoothing of lower lateral edges on Milnesand points generally extends up further than on Plainview points, sometimes to a point beyond the mid-section.

MESERVE POINTS

Meserve points were first described from the Meserve Site near Grand Island, Nebraska. They are found in most parts of the Southwest.