Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I, Point Types

mm. The illustrated example provided the following measurements: length,

Chapter 37,667 wordsPublic domain

45 mm.; width of blade, 20 mm.; width at base, 13 mm.; thickness, 5 mm.; depth of basal concavity, 4 mm.

FORM: The cross-section is usually biconvex, but may be plano-convex. Blade edges are excurvate above the hafting area. Distal ends are acute. The hafting area is expanded pointed, with deeply incurvate, steeply flaked basal edge.

FLAKING: Shallow, random flaking was used to shape the faces of the blade and hafting area. Fairly broad flakes were removed in shaping the blade edges, followed by very fine secondary retouching along the edges. Large flakes were often removed in forming the basal concavity and several short narrow flakes were removed to form a steeply flaked basal edge. Local materials were used, especially Ft. Payne chert.

COMMENTS: The type was named from points found on the Stone Pipe Site (Cambron, 1955a) in the Wheeler Basin of the Tennessee River, Limestone County, Alabama. The illustrated example is from this site (Cambron 156). Two points similar to Wheeler Recurvate were found at the Scharbauer Site near Midland, Texas (Wendorf, Krieger, Albritton and Stewart, 1955). One was near human bones in Locality 1 and one was from Locality 2. Both were in association with early materials, especially Folsom materials. A radiocarbon date of 20,000 years ago was secured from fire hearth at the site (Associated Press story in The Nashville Tennessean, Oct. 14, 1956). The type is similar to McKean points, but appears to be older and, unlike McKean points, the basal edge is steeply beveled. This type appears with Wheeler Excurvate and Wheeler Triangular points on pre-shellmound sites in North Alabama. Evidence indicates a transitional Paleo-Indian association.

WHEELER TRIANGULAR, =Cambron= (Cambron, 1955a and 1957): A-87

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small to medium sized auriculate point with incurvate base, steeply worked basal edge, and straight blade edges.

MEASUREMENTS: In gathering data for the type, large Wheeler Excurvate points were included in the measurements; therefore, measurements of a series are not available. The illustrated example provided the following measurements: length, 81 mm.; width of blade, 24 mm.; width at base, 21 mm.; thickness, 8 mm.; depth of basal concavity, 8 mm.

FORM: The cross-section is usually biconvex, but may be plano-convex. Blade edges are straight. Distal ends are acute. The hafting area is parallel-pointed with deeply incurvate, steeply flaked basal edge.

FLAKING: Shallow, random flaking was used to shape the faces of the blade and hafting area. Fairly broad flakes were removed in shaping the blade edges, followed by very fine secondary retouching along the edges. Large flakes were often removed in forming the basal concavity, and several short narrow flakes were removed to form a steeply flaked basal edge. Local materials were used, especially Ft. Payne chert.

COMMENTS: The type was named from points found on the Stone Pipe Site (Cambron, 1955) in the Wheeler Basin of the Tennessee River, Limestone County, Alabama. The illustrated example is from this site, Cambron 156. At the Quad Site (Cambron and Hulse, 1960a), an example recovered from Stratum I had probably weathered from Stratum III, where it would have been in association with transitional Paleo-Indian materials.

WHITE SPRINGS, =Hulse= (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962): A-88

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium sized point with short, broad stem and excurvate blade edges.

MEASUREMENTS: Fourteen paratypes, including the illustrated example, provided the following measurements: length--maximum, 66 mm.; minimum, 42 mm.; average, 50 mm.: shoulder width--maximum, 36 mm.; minimum, 28 mm.; average, 32 mm.: stem length--maximum, 24 mm.; minimum, 17 mm.; average, 20 mm.: stem length--maximum, 7 mm.; minimum, 3 mm.; average, 6 mm.: thickness--maximum, 10 mm.; minimum, 3 mm.; average, 9 mm.

FORM: The cross-section may be biconvex or flattened. Shoulders are horizontal and narrow. Blade edges are slightly excurvate, rarely incurvate. The distal end is acute. The hafting area is stemmed, with straight side edges. The basal edge is thinned and usually straight, but may be incurvate and may be ground.

FLAKING: Shallow, random, rarely transverse oblique, flaking was used to shape the blade and stem faces. Blade and stem edges were retouched by removal of short, probably pressure, flakes.

COMMENTS: The type was named from points found in the White Springs area on the north side of the Tennessee River in Limestone County, Alabama. The illustrated holotype is from Hulse Site 17 in Limestone County, Alabama. Examples appear to be more numerous in the Tennessee River Valley of North Alabama, where they are found on early Archaic sites. Three points (l, n, and o, Plate 12, Page 45) listed among examples of Sykes points from the Eva Site (Lewis and Lewis, 1961) appear to fit into the White Springs type. Most examples found at Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) were from the lower levels of Zone A (early Archaic), and one example was among the artifacts associated with Burial 8 at this site. This was an early Archaic burial featuring Morrow Mountain points. Examples were illustrated (Webb and DeJarnette, 1942) from sub-mound Burial 88 from Site Ct 27 in the Pickwick Basin of the Tennessee River. Observed materials from many North Alabama sites suggest a typological relationship between White Springs, Benton Stemmed, and Buzzard Roost Creek points. Benton Stemmed is thought to have been in use later than White Springs and possibly than Buzzard Roost Creek. An early Archaic association is suggested, with an estimated date of 5000 B.C. to about 4000 B.C. or later.

PROVISIONAL POINT TYPES

This group includes points that are probably extreme variants of named types, unfinished points, and points that have not proven distinctive enough to be recognized as a definite type. As further work is carried out and more materials become available for observation, some named types may be separated from these generalized types as has been done with some of the provisional types originally set up.

Illustrations are oversize to show the flaking more clearly.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Small to large sized, straight stemmed points that do not conform with certainty to any of the named type descriptions.

COMMENTS: At Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961) examples from the Archaic Stratum II were slightly larger than examples from Woodland and Mississippian Stratum I. At Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) this was the most numerous provisional type, and most examples appeared in the upper half of Zone A (Archaic and later).

Provisional Type 1--Stemmed, =Cambron and Waters= (Cambron and Waters, 1961)

Provisional Type 2--Expanded Stem, =Cambron and Waters= (Cambron and Waters, 1961)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Small to large expanded stem points that do not conform with certainty to any of the named type descriptions.

COMMENTS: At Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961) the type was slightly smaller than Provisional Type 1--Stemmed, and examples from Stratum I (Woodland and Mississippian) were slightly longer than examples from Stratum II (Archaic). At Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) practically all examples were recovered from Zone A (Archaic and later), with most examples from the upper half of this zone.

Provisional Type 3--(See Crawford Creek)

Provisional Type 4--Stemmed Barbed, =Cambron and Waters= (Cambron and Waters, 1961)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Usually small to medium sized, stemmed points, with barbed shoulders, that do not conform to a named type description.

COMMENTS: At Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961) examples from Stratum I (Woodland and Mississippian) were slightly larger than examples from Stratum II (Archaic). Of the few examples recovered from the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962), most were from late Archaic or early Woodland strata.

Provisional Type 5--Stemmed and Serrated, =Cambron and Waters= (Cambron and Waters, 1961)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Small to large stemmed points, with serrated blade edges, that do not conform to a named type description.

COMMENTS: Examples are more likely to occur in Archaic than Woodland association.

Provisional Type 6--Unfinished Base, =Cambron and Waters= (Cambron and Waters, 1961)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Usually medium sized points with finished blade and unfinished base that do not conform to any named type description.

COMMENTS: The only two examples recovered from Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961) were from Stratum I (Woodland and Mississippian). The three examples from Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) were from the upper half of Zone A (Archaic and later).

Provisional Type 7--(See Elora)

Provisional Type 8--Corner Notched, =Cambron and Waters= (Cambron and Waters, 1961)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A small to large sized corner notched point that does not conform to a named type description.

COMMENTS: Basal edges may be ground and blade edges may be serrated or beveled. Larger examples are usually associated with early Archaic cultures.

Provisional Type 9--Side Notched, =Cambron and Waters= (Cambron and Waters, 1961)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A small to large side notched point that does not conform to a named type description.

COMMENTS: May appear in association with Archaic or Woodland cultural materials.

Provisional Type 10--Eccentric Notched, =Cambron and Waters= (Cambron and Waters, 1961)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A medium sized, stemmed point with several eccentric notches along the blade edges that does not conform to any named type description.

COMMENTS: This is a relatively rare point. One example was recovered from Stratum II (Archaic) at Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Water, 1961). One example of unknown provenience was illustrated as type 51 by Webb and DeJarnette (1942, Plate 294-1) from Ct 27. An example was illustrated by Travis and Lenser (1960, Fig. 7-G) from the Sugar Creek area of the Tennessee Valley.

Provisional Type 11--Triangular, =Cambron and Waters= (Cambron and Waters, 1961)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A small to large triangular point that does not conform to a named type description.

COMMENTS: May appear in association with Transitional Paleo and later cultural materials.

Provisional Type 12--Rounded Base, =Cambron and Hulse= (Cambron and Hulse, 1960b)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Small to large, rounded base, trianguloid point that does not conform to the description of a named type.

COMMENTS: Examples were recovered from early Archaic through late Woodland strata at Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962).

Provisional Type 13--Notched Convex Stem, =Cambron and Hulse= (Cambron and Hulse, 1960b)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A medium to large point that usually has a rounded stem with notches in the stem adjacent to the shoulders and that does not conform to the description of a named type.

COMMENTS: A comparatively rare point that may prove to be a definite type, although at present the few examples are too variable to define as a type. An example was recovered from Level 2 (Woodland) of Zone A at Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962).

ALABAMA COUNTIES

DISTRIBUTION CHART

n s e e o w a n A a n r k n r e n w n t h t a n i e i M g i u t c r u e k o a e r e r u g h a s b e b h t l A u w o n o e o b o t t k u e e c a n s m a l r m a t k B a d b b u l l h m r l c r y b f b e s i n l e l a o a w e n A t l r b o l t l a e i o a a e f l n o v e l l l K m c o y a L u a a i l u u a h h h h l l l o o o o o r u a a e l s t a r A A B B B B B B C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C D D D E E E F F

A1 1 13 A1 A1a 4 7 A1a A2 A2 A4 2 A4 A5 2 1 A5 A5a 2 A5a A6 4 3 A6 A7 1 A7 A9 33 301 A9 A9a 18 A9a

A10 1 11 11 A10 A11 1 14 17 A11 A12 5 3 A12 A13 5 A13 A14 1 7 1 A14 A16 2 2 15 25 A16 A17 A17 A18 1 A18 A19 3 3 A19 A19a A19a

A20 2 4 A20 A20a 17 A20a A21 2 5 A21 A21a 1 A21a A21b A21b A22 1 1 4 A22 A23 A23 A24 2 8 6 A24 A24a 18 21 A24a A25 1 1 4 13 A25

A26 2 A26 A27 7 9 8 A27 A28 2 12 A28 A29 3 5 3 A29 A30 6 1 A30 A31 3 2 9 A31 A32 A32 A33 8 67 A33 A34 6 1 10 A34 A34a 2 4 A34a

A35 10 35 A35 A36 A36 A37 1 1 31 164 A37 A38 1 1 A38 A39 A39 A40 8 A40 A41 A41 A42 3 2 A42 A43 1 4 14 9 A43 A44 A44

e y n l e r r a o a e n l e h i g n n s d c o s n o l m s p l a e a e o o r r n t e o g n a e e o n n l l l y r d v n y t s e r e e s d n s n o h l o g a y e o e C b e a e e e r s k f a d r e n o i e i s i r t g r k e d s l t l n e l n u c f m u w e m w c d r r r b n n r r c k n s . e m l e r a e o a e a a a e i o a a a a a o o o o e i i a u t h u a G G H H H J J L L L L L L M M M M M M M M M P P P R R S S S T

A1 2 25 8 4 A1 A1a 1 13 1 2 A1a A2 1 1 A2 A4 1 A4 A5 15 A5 A5a 14 A5a A6 2 25 2 12 A6 A7 17 16 A7 A9 14 51 319 85 25 A9 A9a 12 3 10 A9a

A10 22 4 697 194 31 1 A10 A11 10 6 39 193 1 A11 A12 1 4 58 15 4 A12 A13 A13 A14 1 4 20 26 4 A14 A16 33 2 128 75 21 1 A16 A17 1 10 4 A17 A18 5 11 24 3 A18 A19 2 19 19 3 A19 A19a 4 2 1 A19a

A20 3 134 10 32 A20 A20a 5 2 259 14 59 A20a A21 3 2 36 14 27 A21 A21a 10 1 2 A21a A21b 4 5 A21b A22 1 5 1 2 A22 A23 1 A23 A24 18 3 69 18 10 A24 A24a 1 48 51 20 8 A24a A25 8 5 124 35 11 A25

A26 6 1 27 6 1 A26 A27 6 2 151 89 1 A27 A28 4 12 18 A28 A29 1 1 46 72 5 A29 A30 1 38 3 A30 A31 1 3 54 46 A31 A32 1 A32 A33 4 19 202 26 16 A33 A34 3 3 141 53 12 A34 A34a 1 105 6 3 A34a

A35 42 3 6 A35 A36 3 A36 A37 15 61 292 54 52 1 A37 A38 11 14 5 A38 A39 12 3 11 A39 A40 39 23 1 A40 A41 1 28 5 28 A41 A42 9 1 1 A42 A43 32 9 145 51 42 1 A43 A44 1 A44

a a n s s o o o t e e o o g n c n b p l r n x o n l m a a e i o t . e o e . o l c k h c s N r c n C c l s l s l n N w n y n a u a a i i E a i a . u T T W W W W T L L W N B

A1 3 A1 A1a 1 A1a A2 A2 A4 A4 A5 2 22 A5 A5a 29 27 A5a A6 1 A6 A7 A7 A9 14 16 A9 A9a 7 2 A9a

A10 12 1 A10 A11 9 1 A11 A12 2 17 A12 A13 86 A13 A14 2 9 1 A14 A16 1 1 9 5 A16 A17 A17 A18 A18 A19 1 A19 A19a A19a

A20 1 A20 A20a A20a A21 7 1 A21 A21a 1 A21a A21b A21b A22 3 A22 A23 A23 A24 1 3 A24 A24a 11 11 A24a A25 27 A25

A26 A26 A27 8 1 1 A27 A28 1 1 A28 A29 4 4 A29 A30 1 A30 A31 4 1 A31 A32 A32 A33 14 8 A33 A34 5 37 A34 A34a 3 2 A34a

A35 14 A35 A36 A36 A37 12 50 26 45 A37 A38 3 6 A38 A39 A39 A40 3 A40 A41 A41 A42 1 A42 A43 3 2 3 A43 A44 35 A44

A44a A44a A45 9 A45 A46 1 2 A46 A47 2 A47 A48 1 1 A48 A49 1 1 A49 A50 2 1 7 A50 A50a 3 16 A50a A51 1 6 17 A51 A52 1 1 29 A52

A53 1 A53 A54 A54 A55 1 A55 A56 18 31 A56 A57 6 A57 A58 A58 A59 3 A59 A59a A59a A60 1 33 160 A60 A60a A60a

A61 8 9 A61 A61a 2 A61a A61b 3 21 A61b A62 3 A62 A63 3 1 A63 A64 1 A64 A65 A65 A66 A66 A67 1 A67 A68 A68

A69 1 7 4 23 A69 A70 4 12 A70 A70a 6 2 6 A70a A71 A71 A72 1 4 A72 A72a A72a A73 2 3 A73 A73a A73a A74 1 A74 A75 A75

A76 A76 A77 A77 A78 10 A78 A79 A79 A80 A80 A8l 2 16 21 A81 A82 A82 A84 2 7 35 A84 A85 A85 A86 A86

A44a A44a A45 54 6 3 A45 A46 1 14 10 1 A46 A47 1 4 A47 A48 1 19 16 1 A48 A49 1 46 2 7 A49 A50 1 131 55 156 A50 A50a 4 262 82 22 A50a A51 5 122 17 19 A51 A52 3 90 60 20 A52

A53 22 2 2 A53 A54 5 1 2 A54 A55 1 46 27 1 A55 A56 23 61 10 6 A56 A57 3 51 4 2 2 A57 A58 A58 A59 10 1 5 A59 A59a 2 2 1 A59a A60 19 560 68 60 1 1 A60 A60a 4 160 9 20 A60a

A61 3 138 83 16 A61 A61a 1 89 9 6 A61a A61b 1 97 74 3 A61b A62 199 14 8 A62 A63 52 2 2 A63 A64 4 2 2 A64 A65 5 5 1 A65 A66 13 13 2 A66 A67 10 1 A67 A68 1 A68

A69 13 181 59 8 A69 A70 2 240 39 6 A70 A70a 1 17 13 2 A70a A71 1 A71 A72 2 29 47 A72 A72a 12 1 1 A72a A73 1 15 13 1 A73 A73a 1 1 A73a A74 10 12 1 A74 A75 2 A75

A76 A76 A77 A77 A78 3 28 15 1 A78 A79 16 2 A79 A80 5 3 A80 A81 22 155 166 44 1 A81 A82 A82 A84 1 179 25 58 A84 A85 13 3 A85 A86 3 A86

a a n s s o o o t e e o o g n c n b p l r n x o n l m a a e i o t . e o e . o l c k h c s N r c n C c l s l s l n N w n y n a u a a i i E a i a . u T T W W W W T L L W N B

A44a 65 A44a A45 5 A45 A46 1 A46 A47 A47 A48 A48 A49 9 A49 A50 1 7 A50 A50a 3 1 A50a A51 5 A51 A52 7 5 A52

A53 1 A53 A54 1 1 A54 A55 1 A55 A56 6 18 2 3 A56 A57 5 6 4 A57 A58 A58 A59 A59 A59a A59a A60 3 4 A60 A60a 1 A60a A61 21 27 A61 A61a 1 A61a A61b 4 12 16 A61b A62 1 2 3 A62 A63 11 A63 A64 A64 A65 A65 A66 16 A66 A67 A67 A68 A68

A69 20 8 15 1 3 A69 A70 2 1 A70 A70a 1 A70a A71 A71 A72 A72 A72a A72a A73 A73 A74 A74 A75 29 A75

A76 A76 A77 A77 A78 6 1 8 A78 A80 A80 A81 1 1 A81 A82 A82 A84 3 6 10 A84 A85 A85 A86 1 A86

n s e e o w a A a n r k n r e n w n t h t a n i e M g i u t c r u e k o a e r e r u g h a s b e b h t A u w o n o e o b o t t k u e e c a n s m a l r m a t B a d b b u l l h m r l c r y b f b e s i n l e l a o a w e A t l r b o l t l a e i o a a e f l n o v e l l l k m c o y L u a a i l u u a h h h h l l l o o o o o r u a a e l s t a A A B B B B B B C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C D D D E E E F

A87 A87 A88 13 A88 A89 4 A89 A90 23 88 369 A90 A91 4 17 58 A91 A92 A92 A93 A93 A94 A94 A95 4 6 A95 A96 1 4 3 A96

A97 A97 A98 9 69 A98 A99 10 A99 A100 A100 A103 4 A103 A105 2 A105 A106 A106 A107 A107 A108 A108 A109 A109

A110 A110 A111 A111 A112 A112 A113 A113 A114 A114 A115 A115 A116 21 A116 A117 A117 A118 4 A118 A119 A119

A121 4 A121 A122 6 A122 A123 12 A123 A124 A124 A126 A126 A127 A127 A130 A130 A131 5 A131 A133 A133 A134 11 A134

A135 A135 A136 A136 A137 40 A137 A138 A138

e y n l e r r n o a e n l e h i i n n s d c o s n o l m s p l a l a e o o r r n t e o g n a e e o n n l l l y k v n y t s e r e e s d n s n o h l o g a y e o e C b n e e e r s k f a d r e n o i e i s i r t g r k e d s l a n e l n u c f m u w e m w c d r r r b n n r r c k n s . e r e r a e o a e a a a e i o a a a a a o o o o e i i a u t h F G G H H H J J L L L L L L M M M M M M M M M P P P R R S S

A87 6 A87 A88 221 88 2 A88 A89 116 48 10 A89 A90 3151 2487 6 675 3 8 A90 A91 760 539 3 162 1 A91 A92 36 6 12 A92 A93 1 1 A93 A94 7 1 A94 A95 85 17 1 A95 A96 66 30 14 A96

A97 4 A97 A98 464 391 151 1 1 A98 A99 87 117 69 2 A99 A100 7 2 A100 A103 5 A103 A105 72 3 5 A105 A106 133 6 8 A106 A107 1 A107 A108 3 A108 A109 4 3 A109

A110 1 A110 A111 A111 A112 A112 A113 A113 A114 A114 A115 A115 A116 A116 A117 7 A117 A118 4 3 A118 A119 4 3 A119

A121 10 A121 A122 A122 A123 A123 A124 2 A124 A126 7 A126 A127 1 A127 A130 30 2048 A130 A131 A131 A133 10 A133 A134 3 A134

A135 A135 A136 A136 A137 7 A137 A138 1 A138

a a n a s s o s g o o t y e e Y d e o o g n m e c n b K A n r d p l r n x o o b r n l m e C I w o e a a a e i o t . t l n h e o e o m U n G o e m t l l c k h c s N a a o p r c n . c . o T a R t k h m l l s l s l n N e k x m w n y C n Y o N g O r r c u a a u a a i i E h e i u a i a . u . r E o E a u i S T T T W W W W T C D D H L L W N B N B K L G B B R

A87 A87 A88 4 50 A88 A89 5 7 A89 A90 120 181 115 16 150 A90 A91 28 26 175 2 11 A91 A92 2 1 3 2 A92 A93 A93 A94 2 A94 A95 2 6 A95 A96 2 13 A96

A97 A97 A98 12 49 171 2 A98 A99 2 7 53 2 23 A99 A100 1 2 A100 A103 A103 A105 1 A105 A106 1 A106 A107 A107 A108 A108 A109 A109

A110 A110 A111 A111 A112 18 A112 A113 74 A113 A114 A114 A115 A115 A116 A116 A117 A117 A118 A118 A119 A119

A121 A121 A122 A122 A123 A123 A124 7 8 A124 A126 A126 A127 4 A127 A130 30 2048 A130 A131 A131 A133 A133 A134 A134

A135 9 A135 A136 A136 A137 7 A137 A138 10 A138

GLOSSARY

This glossary was compiled from words used in the text and with the illustrations used to illustrate nomenclature in this paper, and from A Glossary of Flint Flaking Terms in "A Comparative Study of Some Unfinished Fluted Points and Channel Flakes from the Tennessee Valley" (Cambron and Hulse, 1961), "Principles of Stratigraphy" (Grabau, 1960), and a glossary of archaeological terms by T. M. N. Lewis (1958). Words defined by Lewis are followed by the initial "L" and those by Grabau by the initial "G".

Aborigine (L)--a native inhabitant of a country; in America, the Indian.

Acuminate--See Fig. 28.

Acute--See Fig. 27.

Apiculate--See Fig. 31.

Archaic (L)--The culture which followed the Paleo-Indian period and preceded the early Woodland culture in the eastern United States. This was a pre-agricultural, pre-pottery culture. Food was obtained by hunting and gathering. Earliest date (Rocha-Carbon) in Tennessee is about 5000 B.C.

Arrowhead, Arrowpoint (L)--a weapon point generally regarded to be less than 2-1/2 inches in length. Longer points are regarded as spearpoints and knives.

Artifact (L)--an object of human workmanship, especially one of prehistoric origin.

Assemblage--a group of artifacts representing a culture.

Atlatl (L)--the Aztec word for spear-thrower. The device is a wooden stick with a hand grip at one end and a spur or hook at the other which fits into the socketed end of a spear shaft. The device lengthens the throwing arm and gives greater force to the spear.

Auricle--applied to the ear-like parts of a projectile point.

Auriculate--having auricles or ear-like parts. See Fig. 33-38 & 63.

Autotype (G)--a specimen not belonging to the primary material but identified with an already described and named type and selected by the nomenclator himself for the purpose of further illustrating his type.

Barb--a barbed shoulder of a point. See Fig. 13-14.

Base--the proximal end or area of a point nearest the haft. In describing point types, the base is assumed to be the lowest part of the point, thus the distal end is the uppermost part.

Basal Constriction--See Hafting Constriction.

Basal Grinding (L)--the grinding away of the sharp basal edges and lateral edges near the base of a projectile point to prevent cutting of the lashings.

Basal Notching--See Fig. 39-41.

Basal Thinning (L)--produced to remove small, longitudinal flakes from the basal edge of a projectile point. See Fig. 68.

Baton Flaking--removal of flakes from stone by striking blows with a baton-like tool. A method of direct percussion flaking.

Beveled--See Fig. 23, 24, 64 and 69.

Beveled Base--See Fig. 69.

Biconvex--See Fig. 1.

Bifaced (L)--a term applied to flaked stone artifacts that have been worked on both faces.

Bifurcated Stem--See Fig. 61.

Blade--that part of a projectile point above the hafting area.

Blade Scar--a uniface scar surface resulting from a blade having been struck from a core. As another blade is struck from the core, it bears the blade scar of the previous blade.

Bulb of Percussion--a bulb resulting from a conchoidal fracture of stone.

Bulbar Depression--the depression left from the bulb of percussion when a blade or flake is struck from a core.

Ceramic (L)--pertaining to pottery.

Chalcedony--a flint-like stone with a waxy appearance. Alabama sources are usually nodular.

Channel Flake (L)--a long flake removed longitudinally from the face of a blade to form a flute or channel.

Chert (L)--an impure variety of flint.

Chip--See Flake.

Chronology (L)--the arrangement of events, or the material representing them, in the order of their occurrence in time.

Collateral Flaking--See Fig. 71.

Concave--See Incurvate.

Conchoidal (L)--shaped like half of a clam shell; refers to the characteristic fractures resulting from pressure and percussion flaking of flint.

Conglomerate (L)--conglomerate rock is composed of rounded pebbles and sand cemented together into solid rock.

Conoidal Theory of Flint Fracture--the theory that ideally a cone will be punched out of a piece of flint when it is struck with sufficient force.

Contracted Pointed--See Fig. 54.

Contracted Rounded--See Fig. 53.

Contracted Stem--See Fig. 52.

Core (L)--a stone, usually flint, from which flakes have been removed by percussion.

Corner Notched--See Fig. 40.

Cotype (G)--an example of the original series when there is no holotype, the describer having used a number of examples as of equal value.

Culture (L)--the way of life of a group of people, comprising all their activities and beliefs. Archaeologically, a culture is represented by the material remains left by a group.

Cultural Complex (L)--a group of traits whose associations in time and space indicate that they were the products of the activities of a specific human group.

Deposit (L)--any accumulation laid down by human occupational activities.

Diagonal Notches--See Fig. 40.

Direct Percussion--flaking flint by striking it directly with a hammerstone or other object.

Distal (L)--when applied to a bone, it is the end farthest from the body.

Distal End--when applied to a projectile point or other hafted artifact, it is the end farthest from the point of attachment.

Drift--an implement, usually made of antler, used in indirect percussion flaking.

Ear--See Auricle.

Early Archaic--an early phase of the Archaic culture that may be represented by notched projectile points and is considered pre-shellmound in North Alabama.

Excurvate Base--See Fig. 48.

Excurvate Blade--See Fig. 16.

Excurvate-Incurvate--See Fig. 21.

Expanded Barbs--See Fig. 14.

Expanded-Pointed--See Fig. 34.

Expanded-Rounded--See Fig. 36.

Expanded Shoulder--See Fig. 12.

Expanded Stem--See Fig. 51.

Expanded Stem Side Edges--See Fig. 57.

Face--the area of a projectile point or tool between the edges. This may include the blade and hafting area.

Flake--in flint work it is a thin piece split from the parent material or core; to remove flakes from parent materials in flint work.

Flake Scar--a scar on the parent material resulting from the removal of a flake.

Flaking--the removing of flakes from a core or artifact in flint working.

Flaking Tool--an implement used in flaking stone tools; it is often made from an antler tine.

Flat Flaking--See Shallow Flaking.

Flattened--See Fig. 4.

Flute or Flute Scar--the scar left on the face of a projectile point as a result of fluting or removal of a channel flake.

Fluted Cross-Section--See Fig. 6.

Ground--areas, especially hafting area edges, that have been abraded smooth.

Haft (L)--a handle (or shaft); to provide with a handle.

Hafting Area--the area of a point or tool that receives the lashings, etc. in hafting procedures; the proximal end of a projectile point.

Hafting Constriction--a hafting area that is constricted along the side edges.

Hammerstone (L)--a hard pebble showing battering from use as a hammer.

Hinge Fracture--when the terminal end of a blade or flake, being struck from the parent material, makes a sharp dip into the material causing a deep fracture, it is called a hinge fracture. If a fracture of this type occurs during the removal of a channel flake from a projectile point it usually breaks at the terminal end of the channel flake.

Holotype (G)--among the primary types a holotype is the original specimen selected as the type, and from which the original description (protolog), or the original illustration (protograph), is made.

Homotype (G)--a homotype is a specimen not used in the literature but identified by a specialist, after comparing with the holotype.

Horizontal Shoulder--See Fig. 7.

Horizontal Transverse Flaking--See Fig. 72.

Impact Fracture--a fracture of a projectile point resulting from impact during use; a shattering of the distal end of a projectile point as a result of impact with a resistant object.

Incurvate Base--See Fig. 47.

Incurvate Blade--See Fig. 17.

Incurvate Stem Side Edges--See Fig. 56.

Indirect Percussion--flaking flint by striking a drift which has been placed against the flint.

In Situ (L)--in place.

Inversely Tapered--See Fig. 8.

Lanceolate--shaped like the head of a lance; of leaves, etc., narrow, and tapered toward the apex, or (sometimes) toward each end.

Lithic (L)--pertaining to stone.

Main Flute--the central flute struck from the face of a projectile point. This is usually the longest flute occurring during multiple fluting of a projectile point.

Median Ridge--a ridge left along the center of the blade of a projectile point during manufacture.

Midden (L)--the deposit of refuse generally present on a village site.

Mississippian Culture (L)--the culture that appeared in the Southeast around 1000 years ago. Shows strong Mexican influences and is associated with many groups ancestral to the historic Muskhogean speaking tribes of the Southeast.

Mucronate--See Fig. 29.

Multiple Fluting--multiple fluting is the result of the removal of more than one channel flake from one face of a projectile point. This is usually accomplished by two primary flutes and a main flute being made.

Notched Blade Edge--See Fig. 26.

Oblique Transverse Flaking--See Fig. 73.

Obsidian (L)--a volcanic glass; may be black, brown, or green in color.

Obtuse--See Fig. 30.

Obverse Face--as a means of identifying the faces of projectile points, the obverse face is the one without marks, such as site number, etc.

Paleo-Indian (L)--a name assigned to nomadic groups who were the first inhabitants of the new world. Their culture was comparable to that of the late Paleolithic of the old world.

Paleolithic (L)--a term applied to the Stone Age of the old world. During this period man had no knowledge of plant and animal domestication and no knowledge of pottery and metals.

Parallel-Angular Blade--See Fig. 19.

Parallel Blade--See Fig. 18.

Parallel-Pointed--See Fig. 33.

Parallel-Rounded--See Fig. 35.

Patina (L)--an adhesive crust or discoloration produced by weathering of an object. It does not necessarily imply great age.

Percussion Flaking (L)--removal of flakes from stone by striking blows with a stone or other hammer.

Pitch of Striking Platform--the degree of angle resulting from the removal of flakes from the base of a point to make a striking platform.

Plano-convex (L)--a term used to describe an object that is flat on one face and convex on the other.

Plesiotype (G)--a plesiotype is a specimen not belonging to the primary material but identified with an already described and named type and selected by someone else than the original describer for the purpose of further illustrating the type.

Pointed Base--See Fig. 42-45.

Pointed Stem--See Fig. 62.

Pressure Flaking (L)--shaping a stone such as an arrowpoint by removing flakes from the edges by pressure with a pointed implement made of material such as bone or antler.

Primary Flaking--the first rough series of flakes removed in shaping blade or hafting area edges of projectile points or tools.

Primary Flute--usually one of two short flutes removed from the basal face of a point in order to leave a striking nipple.

Projectile Point (L)--a pointed artifact used on a spear, arrow or dart.

Proximal End--the end of a projectile point to which a haft is attached. This is part of the hafting area.

Quartz (L)--a material frequently used in projectile points and other artifacts. When quartz is clear and colorless, it is called rock crystal; milky quartz is milky white; smoky quartz is a cloudy brown color; rose quartz is a pale red color; sugar quartz is the color of brown sugar.

Quartzite--a granular form of quartz, often quartz fragments cemented together.

Random Flaking--See Fig. 74.

Recurvate Blade--See Fig. 20.

Resolved Flaking (L)--the method of striking flakes from a flint core by directing the blow inward. A resolved flake struck off in this manner is thinner and narrower at the percussion end; the flake is thicker and wider at the opposite end, and, when it does not extend the full length of the core, it usually ends in a hinge fracture.

Retouch (L)--a term applied to the secondary removal by pressure of small flakes from the edge of a flaked stone artifact to produce sharpness.

Reverse Face--the reverse face of a point may be designated as the one with the site number, etc., marked on it. This is assumed to be the less finished side.

Reworked--a projectile point or other artifact is said to be reworked when the shape has been altered by flaking, grinding, etc., either by the manufacturer or other people.

Rhomboid--See Fig. 2.

Rind--a deeply weathered area on the outer surface of a nodule or chunk of flint or like material.

Rounded--a term applied to a relatively symmetrical curved area of a projectile point.

Rounded Base--See Fig. 46.

Rounded Stem--See Fig. 53.

Secondary Flaking--the removal of small flakes, usually by pressure flaking, with a piece of bone or antler. The secondary flaking along the edge of the blade of a point is usually designed to finish the blade edges.

Serrated--having intentional toothed projections along an edge.

Shallow Flaking--the removal of shallow flakes in shaping a projectile point or tool.

Shellmound Archaic--that part of the Archaic period when shellfish middens were formed as residue of the gathering economy of the people in an area.

Shoulders--See Fig. 7-12.

Side Notched--See Fig. 39.

Spall (L)--waste flake struck from a larger piece of flint.

Spear Thrower (L)--See Atlatl.

Stem--a type of hafting area of projectile points. See Fig. 50-54.

Straight Base--See Fig. 49.

Straight Blade Edge--See Fig. 15.

Straight Stem--See Fig. 50.

Straight Stem Side Edges--See Fig. 55.

Stratification (L)--formation in strata or layers. When village site deposits show more than one stratum formed by successive occupations by groups of people, the lowest stratum is the oldest.

Stratigraphy (L)--the arrangement of strata with respect to position in which they were laid down by human occupation or from natural causes.

Striking Nipple--a nipple left near the center of the striking platform where a drift may be set to strike the main flute. Usually the nipple is formed by the removal of two primary flutes.

Striking Platform--a prepared basal edge of a projectile point. This edge is beveled to a degree of pitch that will allow a drift to be set at the proper angle to strike off a channel flake.

Tapered--See Fig. 9.

Thinned--See Fig. 68.

Trait, Culture Trait (L)--any object or other evidence that is the result of human behavior or action.

Transitional--of, pertaining to, characterized by, or involving transition; intermediate. In archaeology, usually pertaining to evidence of transition from one culture to another.

Transitional Paleo-Indian--a cultural period intermediate between Paleo-Indian and Archaic.

Typology (L)--a study of arrangement of specimens separated into types.

Unifaced (L)--a term applied to flaked stone artifacts that have been worked on one face only.

Variant--in projectile point typology a variation of the type described as of the original series.

Vein Quartz--a relatively pure type of quartz found in veins in igneous areas.

Woodland Culture (L)--a widespread culture in eastern America which appeared in the Southeast about 2000 B.C. The presence of pottery differentiates it from the Archaic which preceded it.

Worked--in projectile point descriptions, describes an area of an artifact that has been shaped or altered by man--such as the removal of flakes along a blade edge.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Associated Press 1956 Story in the Nashville Tennessean, Oct. 14, 1956.

Adair, L. and E. J. Sims 1970 Rockport Variety, Harpeth River Point. Tennessee Archaeologist, Vol. XXVI, No. 2, Tennessee Archaeological Society, Knoxville.

Bell, Robert E. 1958 Guide to the Identification of Certain American Indian Projectile Points. Special Bulletin No. 1, Oklahoma Anthropological Society. Norman. 1960 Guide to the Identification of Certain American Indian Projectile Points. Special Bulletin No. 2, Oklahoma Anthropological Society. Norman.

Bell, Robert E. and Roland S. Hall 1953 Selected Projectile Point Types of the United States. Bulletin of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society, Vol. 1. Norman.

Bennett, John W. 1948 The Prehistory of the Northern Mississippi Valley. In Archeology of Eastern United States, edited by James B. Griffin. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Bordaz, Jacques 1959 The New Stone Age, Part II (the Mesolithic and Neolithic Periods). Natural History Magazine, Vol. LXVIII, No. 2.

Bullen, Ripley 1968 A Guide to the Identification of Florida Projectile Points. Florida State Museum, University of Florida, Gainesville.

Caldwell, Joseph R. 1947 The Archaeology of Eastern Georgia and South Carolina. In Archeology of Eastern United States, edited by James B. Griffin. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Cambron, James W. 1955a The Wheeler Point. Newsletter, Oklahoma Anthropological Society, Vol. IV, No. 4. Norman. 1955b A Preliminary Report on the Stone Pipe Site in North Alabama. Tennessee Archaeologist, Vol. XI, No. 2. Tennessee Archaeological Society, Knoxville. 1956 The Pine Tree Site--A Paleo-Indian Habitation Locality. Tennessee Archaeologist, Vol. XII, No. 2. Tennessee Archaeological Society, Knoxville. 1957 Some Early Projectile Point Types from the Tennessee Valley. Journal of Alabama Archaeology, Vol. III, No. 2. Alabama Archaeological Society, Decatur. 1958a Some Early Projectile Point Types from the Tennessee Valley,