FORM: The cross-section may be plano-convex or biconvex. The widest part of the point is usually about one-third of the length of the point from the base. From its widest part to the distal end, the blade is excurvate or sometimes nearly straight. The distal end is acute. The base is pointed and may be broad or acute.
FLAKING: The presence of many hinge fractures on blade faces indicates much of the flaking used to shape the blade and hafting area may be the result of the baton method of percussion flaking. Some secondary flaking appears along the edges. The plane striking area on the basal edge indicates manufacture from a blade. Many examples in the Tennessee Valley are made of Ft. Payne chert.
COMMENTS: The type site is the Canyon Diablo Site of Tamaulipas, Mexico (Mahan, 1955). An example was found with a mammoth near Mexico City. The illustrated example is from Hulse Site 32E, Limestone County, Alabama. Examples are usually found on the same sites as Lerma Rounded Base, but may be somewhat earlier as is the case with the Mexican examples although not with Rounded Base Texas examples. At the Quad Site (Cambron and Hulse, 1960a) an example reworked to a drill was recovered from Stratum III in association with Big Sandy I, Dalton, Crawford Creek, and other points. An early Archaic to transitional Paleo association is suggested.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large sized, lanceolate point with rounded base.
MEASUREMENTS: Some measurements of 52 examples from 27 sites in the Tennessee Valley (Soday and Cambron, n. d.) follow: length—maximum, 99 mm.; minimum, 51 mm.; average, 80 mm.: width—average, 28 mm.: thickness—average, 9 mm. The illustrated example is 90 mm. long, 30 mm. wide, and 9 mm. thick.
FORM: The cross-section is usually biconvex but may be somewhat flattened or plano-convex. The blade is usually excurvate but may be nearly straight beyond the hafting area. Some examples may be beveled on one side of each face beyond the hafting area. The distal end is acute. The hafting area may be rounded or broad-pointed. The basal edge is thinned, except for the striking platform of the basic blade, on many examples. This leaves a plane area on part of the basal edge.
FLAKING: A combination of broad shallow flakes and short hinged flakes were used on many examples to shape the blade and hafting area. Secondary flaking is usually present along the edges. The plane striking area on the basal edge indicates manufacture from a blade. Local materials are usually employed. Many North Alabama examples are made of Ft. Payne chert.
COMMENTS: The point was named Lerma Rounded Base by Cambron to distinguish it from Lerma Pointed Base. The type is a variant of the Lerma point as defined by MacNeish (E. C. Mahan, 1955). The illustrated example is from Hulse Site 37E in Limestone County, Alabama. Examples from Texas are illustrated by Suhm and Jelks (1962) with an estimated age of 2000 B. C. to 1000 A. D. Others from Texas were described as Archaic and illustrated by Bell (1958). At the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) one example was recovered from Level 1 of Zone D, which is an indication of pre-Archaic or early Archaic association at this site. The presence of one example each from Levels 8 and 9 at the University of Alabama Site Ms 201 in Marshall County, Alabama, indicates an early Archaic association. Three examples were found in Stratum II at Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961), indicating an early to middle Archaic association. Evaluation of this evidence and observations indicate a possible existence of from transitional Paleo to middle Archaic times.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small to medium sized, incurvate-based point with tapered shoulders.
MEASUREMENTS: Ten cotypes from Cambron Site 12, Limestone County, Alabama, provided the following measurements: length—maximum, 52 mm.; minimum, 38 mm.; average, 48 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 35 mm.; minimum, 24 mm.; average, 28 mm.: stem width—maximum, 21 mm.; minimum, 14 mm.; average, 17 mm.: stem length—maximum, 9 mm.; minimum, 6 mm.; average, 8 mm. Measurements of the illustrated example are: length, 51 mm.; shoulder width, 29 mm.; stem width, 20 mm.; stem length, 14 mm.; thickness, 9 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are usually tapered or, rarely, horizontal and are occasionally rounded. The blade is straight and the distal end acute. The stem may be straight or slightly expanded with straight or incurvate side edges. The basal edge is always incurvate and thinned.
FLAKING: The blade and stem are shaped by broad, shallow, random flaking. Secondary flaking along the blade edge ranges from crude to fine. Several examples show fine retouch on only one side of each blade edge, but this does not appear to be an attempt to bevel the blade edges. Large deep flakes were often removed from the basal corners of the original blade in order to shape the stem. These "notches" were then usually retouched as a final measure. After having been thinned, the basal edge was often finely retouched. Bangor flint appears to have been the most frequently used material in manufacture of these points.
COMMENTS: The type was named after examples taken from a shell mound on the Tennessee River in Limestone County, Alabama. The illustrated example is from the type site, primarily an Archaic shellmound site, Cambron Site 12 in Limestone County, Alabama. Surface collections from sites in this area indicate a late Archaic and/or Woodland association. At the University of Alabama Site Ms 201 in Marshall County, Alabama, two examples were recovered from Level 4 and one from Level 7. This is an indication of late Archaic or early Woodland association at this site.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large sized, long-stemmed point with slightly excurvate blade edges.
MEASUREMENTS: Eleven cotypes from Little Bear Creek, Ct 8 (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b), provided the following measurements: length—maximum, 90 mm.; minimum, 64 mm.; average, 75 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 28 mm.; minimum, 22 mm.; average, 24 mm.: stem width—maximum, 17 mm.; minimum, 15 mm.; average, 16 mm.: stem length—maximum, 20 mm.; minimum, 16 mm.; average, 18 mm.: thickness—maximum, 11 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 9 mm. Measurements of the illustrated example are: length, 80 mm.; shoulder width, 30 mm.; stem width, 15 mm.; stem length, 16 mm.; thickness, 11 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are horizontal or tapered. Blade edges are excurvate or, rarely, straight. The distal end is acute. The hafting area is stemmed. The stem may be straight or contracted with straight side edges. Stem edges are usually ground. The stem base edge is straight and may be unfinished.
FLAKING: Deep flake scars and hinge fractures indicate that random percussion flaking was used to shape the blade and stem. Some secondary flaking may also be the result of percussion flaking. Local materials were used.
COMMENTS: The type was named after Little Bear Creek Site Ct 8 (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b) where it was the most important type. The illustrated example is from Hulse Site 17 (Apple Orchard) in Limestone County, Alabama. Of the 65 recovered examples from the Little Bear Creek Site, 58 were from the upper three feet of the eight-foot midden with about one-half of these in the upper foot. This indicates an introduction of the type in late Archaic times and a climax in late Woodland. At Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) three examples were recovered from Level 1, seven from Level 2, three from Level 3 and one each from Levels 4, 5 and 7. This indicates a strong late Woodland association at this site with a possible introduction somewhat earlier. Stratum I (Woodland) at Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961) produced two examples, one in the center third and one from the upper fifth of the stratum. At Flint River Shell Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a) three examples were recovered from Zones A and B (Woodland) and six examples from Zones C and D (Archaic). This evidence seems to indicate an introduction in the shellmound Archaic period of North Alabama and a climax in late Woodland times, with a suggested date of 4000 years ago to about 1500 years ago.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large, corner-notched point beveled on one edge of each blade face and is rhomboid in cross-section.
MEASUREMENTS: The measurements of 11 cotypes (including the illustrated example, from which feature data were taken) range as follows: length—maximum, 81 mm.; minimum, 49 mm.; average, 63 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 48 mm.; minimum, 35 mm.; average, 40 mm.: stem width—maximum, 32 mm.; minimum, 23 mm.; average, 27 mm.: stem length—maximum, 15 mm.; minimum, 12 mm.; average, 13 mm.: thickness—maximum, 8 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 7 mm.
FLAKING: The flaking used on the faces is broad, shallow and random leaving the faces flat. The regular retouch flaking used to bevel the blade was removed from one side of each face and often left serrations; much of this flaking appears to be percussion. One deep, broad flake was removed on each face to form the terminal end of the notches. Apparently small flakes were removed for about one-third the length of the finished notch before the large flakes were struck off. Some retouching was used to finish the notches. Shallow, relatively broad, flakes were removed in thinning the base.
FORM: The cross-section is rhomboid. As a result of deep, narrow, corner notches, the barbs are usually simple, long and may be rounded or acute; rarely, expanded. The blade is usually straight; rarely, excurvate or recurvate. The blade edges may or may not be serrated but are always beveled on one edge of each face. The distal end is usually acute but may approach broad. The hafting area is usually diagonally corner notched; rarely, diagonally basal notched. The notches, as measured along the stern side edge, are usually deep and narrow. The sides of the expanded stem are straight or incurvate. The stem base is thinned and may be incurvate, straight or excurvate. It is usually ground except on some straight-based examples.
COMMENTS: The type was named after the Lost Lake area in Limestone County, Alabama, where many examples are found. The illustrated example is from Hulse Site 14a, Limestone County, Alabama. At the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) an example from Level 6, Zone A, and one from Level 9, Zone A, were recovered. Examples from North Alabama are from pre-shellmound sites, and are usually patinated. This indicates an early Archaic association prior to 5000 years ago.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small, thin, triangular point.
MEASUREMENTS: Fifteen plesiotypes, including the illustrated example from Cambron Site 27 in Limestone County, Alabama, provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 33 mm.; minimum, 17 mm.; average, 26 mm.: width at base—maximum, 21 mm.; minimum, 12 mm.; average, 16 mm.: thickness—maximum, 6 mm.; minimum, 3 mm.; average, 4 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is flattened. Blade edges are straight, rarely slightly excurvate. The distal end is acute. There is no way to distinguish the hafting area from the blade. Some part of the basal portion of the blade was used as a hafting area. The basal edge may be straight—or incurvate one or two millimeters—and is thinned.
FLAKING: Broad, shallow, random flaking was used to shape the blade. Fine secondary flaking was used to thin and shape the side and basal edges. Local materials were used.
COMMENTS: According to Ritchie (1961) this type was described by Scully as the Mississippi Triangular point and was later changed by him to the Madison point (Scully, 1951). Scully gives the association as "Middle Mississippi" and the distribution as "Middle and Upper Mississippi sites in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri".
Kneberg (1956) refers to a similar point as "Late Mississippi Triangular." She suggests a date of 1300-1800 A. D. The length range, as given by Scully, and measurements of 100 points from a single prehistoric Iroquois site in western New York (Ritchie, 1961) compare favorably with Alabama measurements. The type is associated with the middle Mississippi culture in Alabama and has been referred to locally as Mississippi Triangular. At Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962), of eleven levels in Zone A, Levels 1 and 2 produced 167 of the 234 examples recovered. At the University of Alabama Site Ms 201 in Marshall County, Alabama, 44 of the 52 examples from 13 levels came from Levels 1 and 2. Of the 86 examples recovered from Stratum I (Woodland and Mississippian) at the Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961) most examples were in the uppermost levels. Of 11 examples from Flint River Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a) 9 were in Zone A (uppermost zone). The middle Mississippi culture, with which the points are associated in Alabama, is considered prehistoric Creek. Jenkins (1975) has confirmed a pre-Mississippian (Miller III) provenience for this type on the Central Tombigbee River. The Madison point type was also found on transitional Late Woodland-Early Mississippian sites (West Jefferson Phase) within the Warrior drainage (Jenkins and Nielsen, 1974).
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a large, thin, broad stemmed point with an excurvate base.
MEASUREMENTS: Seventeen cotypes from the Tennessee River Valley (with the exception of length, where only 6 examples were used since the distal ends of the other 11 examples are missing) provided the following measurements and features: length—maximum, 119 mm.; minimum, 61 mm.; average, 93 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 72 mm.; minimum, 37 mm.; average, 52 mm.: stem width—maximum, 50 mm.; minimum, 24 mm.; average, 36 mm.: stem length—maximum, 16 mm.; minimum, 8 mm.; average, 11 mm.: thickness—maximum, 18 mm.; minimum, 10 mm.; average, 14 mm. The illustrated example provided the following measurements: length, 104 mm.; shoulder width, 60 mm.; stem width, 35 mm.; stem length, 12 mm.; thickness, 14 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are tapered. Blade edges are usually excurvate but may be straight. The distal end is usually acute. The stem is short and usually contracted-rounded with excurvate side edges. The basal edge is excurvate or straight, usually thinned, and may be ground.
FLAKING: Broad, shallow to deep, flaking was used to shape the blade and stem. A minimum of secondary flaking was used on some examples, sometimes on only one edge of a face. Other examples show a considerable amount of retouching along the blade edges. A minimum of secondary flaking was used on the basal edge and sides of the stem. Local materials were utilized, especially Ft. Payne chert.
COMMENTS: The type was named from sites along Elk River near Maples Bridge in Limestone County, Alabama. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 19, Morgan County, Alabama. An example from the Eva Site in Benton County, Tennessee is illustrated in Plate 4-a, Page 32 (Lewis and Lewis, 1961) and is described as late Archaic. At Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) an example was recovered from Level 9 of Zone A. This indicates an Archaic association. Seven examples from the 3-foot level and one from the 5-foot level at Little Bear Creek Site Ct 8 (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b) place the association as late Archaic at this site. At Flint River Shell Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a) one example was recovered from Zone A (Woodland) and one from Zone C-D (Archaic). An example was recovered from Archaic Level 7 at the University of Alabama Site 1 Ru 28 in Russell County, Alabama, on the Chattahoochee River. Evidence indicates a middle to late Archaic association with a probable date of about 4000 years ago or slightly earlier.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The McIntire point is a medium sized, expanded stem point with straight base and excurvate blade edges.
MEASUREMENTS: Eleven cotypes, including the illustrated example, provided the following measurements and features: length—maximum, 68 mm.; minimum, 50 mm.; average, 57 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 39 mm.; minimum, 31 mm.; average, 34 mm.: stem width—maximum, 21 mm.; minimum, 18 mm.; average, 20 mm.: stem length—maximum, 13 mm.; minimum, 11 mm.; average, 13 mm.: thickness—maximum, 10 mm.; minimum, 8 mm.; average, 9 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are usually horizontal, but may be tapered or inversely tapered with short barbs. Blade edges are usually excurvate. Some examples may have one straight blade edge. The distal end is acute. The hafting area consists of an expanded stem with incurvate side edges. The basal edge is straight, rarely slightly incurvate, and thinned.
FLAKING: Broad, shallow, random flaking was employed to shape the blade and stem with short, sometimes deep, retouch along the blade edges. Broad deep flakes were removed by indirect percussion to form the stem. All stem edges were then retouched. Local materials were used and remnants of patinated rind remain on the base of most examples. This indicates manufacture from nodular materials, mostly Bangor flint in the area of the type site.
COMMENTS: The point is named for sites near McIntire ditch on the north bank of the Tennessee River near Decatur in Limestone County, Alabama. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 28, one of the shellmound type sites in Limestone County, Alabama. In North Alabama this type is associated with Archaic shellmounds along the Tennessee River. Most expanded stem examples illustrated as Type 7 by Webb and DeJarnette (1942) from Pickwick Basin are probable McIntire points, especially Numbers 1, 3 and 5 in the bottom row of top half of Plate 93. At least one example is included in Type L (Webb and Wilder, 1951) from Guntersville Basin shellmounds, and a few probable examples are illustrated from Wheeler Basin (Webb, 1939). The type may be coeval with Limestone Stemmed points. Associations in surface collections indicate a middle to late Archaic placement. Before recognition of the type some examples may have been classified as Provisional Type 2, expanded stem.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small to medium sized lanceolate point with thinned, incurvate base.
MEASUREMENTS: Nine examples from eastern Wyoming, illustrated by Bell (1958) after Wheeler (1952) provided the following measurements: length—maximum, 61 mm.; minimum, 35 mm.; average, 51 mm.: width—maximum, 21 mm.; minimum, 14 mm.; average, 17 mm.: width at base—maximum, 13 mm.; minimum, 11 mm.; average, 12 mm.: depth of basal concavity—maximum, 6 mm.; minimum, 2 mm.; average, 4 mm. Measurements of four points including the illustrated example, are: length—maximum, 60 mm.; minimum, 52 mm.; average, 55 mm.: width—maximum, 29 mm.; minimum, 17 mm.; average, 24 mm.: thickness—maximum, 8 mm.; minimum, 5 mm.; average, 6 mm.: width at base—maximum, 20 mm.; minimum, 13 mm.; average, 16 mm.: basal concavity—maximum, 3 mm.; minimum, 2 mm.; average, 2 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is usually biconvex, but may be flattened. Blade edges are usually excurvate, but may be straight or recurvate. The distal end is acute. The auriculate hafting area is usually contracted rounded, but may be parallel rounded or expanded rounded. The basal edge is incurvate and thinned.
FLAKING: Flaking used to shape the blade and hafting area is usually random but may be collateral. The side edges are usually retouched and the basal edge is well thinned. Some examples from Idaho (Neisler Collection) exhibit transverse oblique flaking. Alabama examples are made of local materials.
COMMENTS: The type was named from examples from sites in Keyhole Reservoir in northeastern Wyoming (Wheeler, 1952). The illustrated example is from Hulse Site 55 in Limestone County, Alabama. About 15 examples in the collection of W. E. Neisler, from the Snake River between Kamima and American Falls, Idaho, were observed and considered in describing this type (Neisler, personal communication). The Idaho points more or less parallel the Wheeler points in outline, but all examples are heavily thinned on the basal edge. One Wheeler point was observed in the collection but was made of flint and was on a site separate from the sites that produced McKean points. Most of the sites consist of "blow-outs" that cover an area of from one to ten acres. Bell (1958) lists radiocarbon dates from two areas, one from lower levels at Signal Butte, Nebraska (Wheeler, 1952) of 3500 to 4000 years ago. Other dates for sites in Angostura Basin, South Dakota, are 3630 ±350 and 4230 ±350 B. P. At Danger Cave near Wendover, Utah, examples listed by Jennings (1957) as Type W6 were found in Levels II, III, IV and V (uppermost) where radiocarbon dates of from 9789 ±630 to 1930 ±240 B. P. were secured. More examples were from Level V. As some examples of W8 (Wheeler points?) were recovered from the same levels (some A6s may be Wheeler points), this suggests that McKean points are derived from Wheeler points.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Montgomery is a small broad, rounded base point with an excurvate blade.
MEASUREMENTS: Fourteen cotypes from Montgomery and Escambia counties, Alabama, provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 43 mm.; minimum, 23 mm.; average, 37 mm.: width—maximum, 22 mm.; minimum, 10 mm.; average, 16 mm.: thickness—maximum, 10 mm.; minimum, 5 mm.; average, 6 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. The blade is excurvate. The distal end is acute. The base is rounded and thinned.
FLAKING: The blade and hafting area were shaped by shallow, random, percussion flaking with some retouch along the edges, especially near the distal end.
COMMENTS: The type was named after Montgomery, County, Alabama, where many points of this type, including the illustrated example, were recovered. The type is associated with sand and clay-grit tempered pottery in Montgomery and Escambia counties, indicating a Woodland association in this area.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium sized, rounded stem point with excurvate blade.
MEASUREMENTS: Eleven plesiotypes from Limestone County, Alabama, including the illustrated example, provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 68 mm.; minimum, 36 mm.; average, 50 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 28 mm.; minimum, 23 mm.; average, 25 mm.: stem width—maximum, 20 mm.; minimum, 14 mm.; average, 17 mm.: stem length—maximum, 11 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 9 mm.: thickness—maximum, 11 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 9 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are narrow, usually horizontal but may be inversely tapered and occasionally expanded. Blade edges are usually excurvate but are recurvate on examples with expanded shoulders, and about half the examples have serrated blade edges. The distal end may be acute or mucronate, rarely broad. The hafting area is composed of a rounded, rarely pointed, stem that is occasionally ground along the edges.
FLAKING: Rather narrow, shallow, random flaking was used to shape the blade and stem. Some fine retouch was used to complete the shape of all edges. Short, fairly deep flakes were removed to form serrations along the blade edges of serrated examples. These serrations may appear the full length of the blade near the basal end or near the distal end. A variety of local flints and cherts were used.
COMMENTS: The type was named from sites near Morrow Mountain in the Piedmont of North Carolina where many examples, designated by Coe (1959) as Morrow Mountain I, were recovered. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 76 (Pine Tree) in Limestone County, Alabama. The type had been illustrated as Rounded Stem Gypsum Cave points by Cambron (1958a) and designated Three Mile by Kneberg (personal communication). Morrow Mountain was adopted at the suggestion of James B. Griffin (personal communication). Coe (1959) places the type later than Stanley and earlier than Guilford points in the Piedmont of North Carolina, where he suggests a date of about 4500 B. C. He also lists dates in Nevada of Gypsum Cave points between 6000 and 8000 B. C. Examples were found associated with two burials at the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) along with Morrow Mountain Rounded Base and other early Archaic points and artifacts. Other examples recovered from this site as well as from Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961) and Little Bear Creek (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b) suggest an early Archaic association, as do surface collections in the Tennessee River Valley.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large, rounded base point with an excurvate blade.
MEASUREMENTS: Ten plesiotypes from Limestone County, Alabama, and Lincoln County, Tennessee, provided the following measurements: length—maximum, 58 mm.; minimum, 37 mm.; average, 45 mm.: width—maximum, 41 mm.; minimum, 24 mm.; average, 30 mm.: thickness—maximum, 10 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 8 mm. Larger examples are known from North Alabama, especially from the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962).
FORM: The cross-section may be flattened or biconvex. Blade edges are excurvate and rarely serrated. The distal end is usually acute but may be mucronate. The hafting area is rounded and thinned, but rarely ground.
FLAKING: Variable, random flaking was used to shape the faces. Some examples were finely retouched along the blade and hafting area edges, while others were not retouched at all. In general the flaking is cruder than that of Morrow Mountain or Morrow Mountain Straight Base. Local flints and cherts were used to make the points.
COMMENTS: The type was named because of similarities and associations with Morrow Mountain points (Coe, 1959) from sites near Morrow Mountain in the North Carolina Piedmont area. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 76 (Pine Tree) in Limestone County, Alabama. The type was listed as Gypsum Cave by Cambron (1958a). At the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962), four examples were associated with Burial No. 11 and two examples were found in association with Burial No. 8 along with Morrow Mountain points and other early Archaic points and tools—including a drill made from a Morrow Mountain Rounded Base point. At the University of Alabama Site Ms 201 in Marshall County, Alabama, one example was recovered from Level 1. In the Tennessee Valley of North Alabama the type is found on early Archaic sites. This type is similar to Gypsum Cave points, dated in Nevada at between 6000 and 8000 B. C. (Coe, 1959). An early Archaic association in Alabama is suggested.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium sized point with contracted stem and straight base.
MEASUREMENTS: Eleven plesiotypes, including the illustrated example, provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 51 mm.; minimum, 37 mm.; average, 42 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 35 mm.; minimum, 25 mm.; average, 28 mm.: stem width—maximum, 19 mm.; minimum, 16 mm.; average, 17 mm.: width at base of stem—maximum, 13 mm.; minimum, 8 mm.; average, 11 mm.: stem length—maximum, 10 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 9 mm.: thickness—maximum, 9 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 8 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. The narrow shoulders are usually inversely tapered but may be horizontal. Blade edges are excurvate and most examples are serrated. As on Morrow Mountain points, the serrations may be near the basal edge of the blade, near the distal end of the blade, or along the entire blade edges. Distal ends may be acute or mucronate. The hafting area consists of a straight sided, contracted stem with a straight thinned base. Some base and/or side edges may be ground.
FLAKING: Shallow, narrow-to-broad, random flaking was used to shape the blade and stem. Some fine retouch was carried out along the blade edges. Short deep flaking was used to form the serrations. Occasionally the mucronate distal end appears to be the result of intentional termination of serrating at the distal end. Other mucronate distal ends were simply flaked out.
COMMENTS: The type was named for its similarity to Morrow Mountain points (Coe, 1959) from sites near Morrow Mountain in the Piedmont of North Carolina. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 76 (Pine Tree) in Limestone County, Alabama. The type was first listed as Straight Stemmed Gypsum Cave by Cambron (1958a). The greatest differences between this type and Morrow Mountain is the greater frequency of shoulder barbs and the straight base of this type. Also, Morrow Mountain is more common. Three examples were recovered from Level 10, Zone A at the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962), which suggests a possibility of greater age than Morrow Mountain points. This type was not found with the two burials from this site which were associated with Morrow Mountain and Morrow Mountain Rounded Base points. At the University of Alabama Site Ms 201 in Marshall County, Alabama, this straight based variant was found below the other two types. A slightly earlier chronological provenience is suggested. Based on Coe's (1959) suggested date of about 4500 B. C. as the earliest appearance of Morrow Mountain points, a date of some time prior to 5000 years ago seems in order.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Motley point is a medium sized, expanded stem point with broad side or corner notches and straight blade edges.
MEASUREMENTS: Eight examples, including the illustrated specimen, from North Alabama and the southern part of Tennessee provided the following measurements and features: length—maximum, 71 mm.; minimum, 50 mm.; average, 60 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 32 mm.; minimum, 27 mm.; average, 29 mm.: stem width at base—maximum, 26 mm.; minimum, 18 mm.; average, 22 mm.: stem width at narrowest point—maximum, 14 mm.; minimum, 11 mm.; average, 12 mm.: stem length—maximum, 17 mm.; minimum, 14 mm.; average, 15 mm.: thickness—maximum, 10 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 8 mm.
FORM: The cross-section may be biconvex or flattened. Shoulders may be horizontal, tapered, or inversely tapered. Blade edges are more apt to be straight but may be slightly excurvate, or one edge may be straight and the other excurvate. The distal end is acute. The stem is expanded and formed by broad deep side or corner notches. Several examples have one corner notch and one side notch. The side edges of the stem are incurvate and the base is usually straight. It is usually thinned, but rarely ground.
FLAKING: Shallow to deep random flaking was used to shape the faces. The blade edges are usually retouched by removal of short and fairly deep flakes. Large deep flakes were removed to form the notches, usually followed by secondary flaking along the stem and shoulder edges. Local materials were used.
COMMENTS: The Motley point was named from the Motley Place in northeastern Louisiana. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 301 in Limestone County, Alabama. Bell (1958) states, "The type is best represented from the Poverty Point Culture in the lower Mississippi Valley" where radiocarbon dates range from about 1300 B. C. up to 200 B. C. It is also present in the Archaic sites of Kentucky, Alabama, and Illinois. It is similar to Normanskill points of New York (Ritchie, 1961). The type has been referred to locally as Sugar Creek. At Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962), five examples were recovered from the top three levels and one from Level 6. At the University of Alabama Site Ms 201 in Marshall County, Alabama, one example each was recovered from Levels 3 and 4. At Flint River Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a) two examples were taken from Zone A (Woodland), five from Zone B (Woodland) and one from Zone C (Archaic). This evidence indicates a strong early Woodland association with a beginning in Archaic times.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small, narrow, thick, stemmed point.
MEASUREMENTS: Eleven cotypes from sites in Madison and Limestone counties, Alabama, provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 51 mm.; minimum, 28 mm.; average, 40 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 20 mm.; minimum, 13 mm.; average, 15 mm.: stem width—maximum, 15 mm.; minimum, 9 mm.; average, 11 mm.: stem length—maximum, 14 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 11 mm.: thickness—maximum, 8 mm.; minimum, 6 mm.; average, 7 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is usually biconvex but may be somewhat median ridged. Shoulders are narrow and tapered. Blade edges may be straight or excurvate. The distal end is acute. Nine of the eleven measured examples show impact fractures of the distal end. The stem is usually straight but may be tapered. The basal edge may be straight or excurvate and is usually unfinished, but may be thinned and is rarely ground.
FLAKING: Short, deep, random flakes were removed in shaping the faces of the blade and stem. Retouching of the edges was accomplished by removal of very short deep flakes. Local materials were used, especially Bangor nodular flint.
COMMENTS: The type was named from points from sites along Mountain Fork Creek in Madison County, Alabama, where they were first recognized. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 103 in this area. The type appears in surface collections along with Swan Lake, Flint River Spike, and Bradley Spike points. At the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962), a few examples were recovered from the upper levels of Zone A. This is an indication of late Woodland association at this site. This was a prominent type in Zones A and B (Woodland) at Flint River Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a), especially in the upper levels. A few examples were recovered from Zones C and D (Archaic) at this site. Current evidence indicates a middle to late Woodland association. Impact fractures on the distal ends of eight of the eleven measured examples indicate use of the type as arrow points. The type is similar to the stemmed variant of Lamoka, an Archaic type found in New York and dated by radiocarbon method at 3500 B. C. (Ritchie, 1961).
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium sized, expanded stem point with excurvate blade and acuminate distal end.
MEASUREMENTS: Fourteen cotypes from Limestone County, Alabama, provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 67 mm.; minimum, 46 mm.; average, 56 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 29 mm.; minimum, 23 mm.; average, 26 mm.: stem width—maximum, 20 mm.; minimum, 14 mm.; average, 18 mm.: stem length—maximum, 17 mm.; minimum, 12 mm.; average, 14 mm.: thickness—maximum, 10 mm.; minimum, 8 mm.; average, 9 mm.
FLAKING: Broad, shallow, random flaking was used to shape the blade and hafting area. Small, fairly deep flakes were removed in retouching the blade and stem edges. Most stem bases have been thinned, but a few are crudely finished.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are usually tapered but may be horizontal and are sometimes rounded. Blade edges are excurvate. The distal end is sharply acute or acuminate. The stem is expanded, sometimes only slightly. Side edges are usually straight. The basal edge is usually thinned and straight but may be excurvate. About half of the examples have ground bases, and several bases retain rind from the parent material.
COMMENTS: It is named from points found on sites near Mud Creek in Limestone County, Alabama. The illustrated example is from Hulse Site 50 in Limestone County, Alabama. The type is similar to Lange points (Bell, 1958) in outline, but is narrower in proportion and differs in other features. At Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) one example each was recovered from Levels 1, 2, and 3; two from Level 5; one from Level 7; two from Level 9. This indicates a late Archaic to Woodland association at this site. At Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961) two examples were recovered from the bottom of Stratum I (Woodland) and two from the top of Stratum II (Archaic). One example appeared in Zone A (early Woodland or late Archaic) at the Little Bear Creek Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b). At Flint River Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a) Zone A (Woodland) produced one Mud Creek point; Zone B (lower Woodland), two examples; while the Archaic zones produced 25 examples, 22 from Zone C (upper Archaic), one from Zone C-D and two from Zone D (bottom Archaic). This indicates a strong late Archaic association at this site. This evidence and surface associations suggest a strong late Archaic type that existed into Woodland times.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large, stemmed point with pronounced excurvate blade.
MEASUREMENTS: Ten cotypes, from the Little Bear Creek Shell Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b) provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 116 mm.; minimum, 81 mm.; average, 96 mm.: blade width—maximum, 36 mm.; minimum, 22 mm.; average. 30 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 30 mm.; minimum, 20 mm.; average, 25 mm.: stem width—maximum, 20 mm.; minimum, 12 mm.; average, 17 mm.: stem length—maximum, 16 mm.; minimum, 12 mm.; average, 15 mm.: thickness—maximum, 12 mm.; minimum, 9 mm.; average, 10 mm. The illustrated example provided the following measurements: length, 81 mm.; blade width, 30 mm.; shoulder width, 28 mm.; stem width, 17 mm.; stem length, 13 mm.; thickness, 10 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are narrow, usually tapered, and may be asymmetrical. Blade edges are excurvate, with the widest point near the midsection, and may be finely serrated. The distal end is usually acute but may be acuminate. The stem may be tapered or straight, rarely expanded. The basal edge is usually excurvate, but may be straight, and is poorly thinned. Stem edges are usually ground.
FLAKING: Broad, shallow, random flaking was used to shape the faces. Fine retouch was carried out along the blade edges. The stem edges were usually more crudely retouched. Local materials, especially Ft. Payne chert, were used.
COMMENTS: The type was named from examples from sites at and near Mulberry Creek in Colbert County, Alabama. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 8 in Morgan County, Alabama. One example was recovered from Level 1, Zone A at the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962). At the Little Bear Creek Site in Colbert County, Alabama (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b), six of the fourteen recovered examples were from the 2-foot level, two from the 1-foot level, two from Zone A (2.75'), two from the 3-foot level and two from the 6-foot level. This evidence indicates an introduction in middle Archaic times, a strong association to late Archaic, and survival into early Woodland at this site. At the Flint River Shell Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a) two examples were taken from Zone A (upper Woodland), one from Zone C (upper Archaic) and one from Zone D (lower Archaic). Based on this information and surface collection associations, a climax of the type in late shellmound Archaic is suggested for North Alabama. Distribution seems to be somewhat limited, although similar examples are illustrated from early Woodland Roskamp Focus of Illinois (Wray, 1950) and from Boone Focus (early Woodland) of central Missouri (Chapman, 1948).
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium sized, narrow, rounded stem point with expanded shoulders.
MEASUREMENTS: Six plesiotypes, including the illustrated example, provided the following measurements: length—maximum, 61 mm.; minimum, 45 mm.; average, 51 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 18 mm.; minimum, 15 mm.; average, 17 mm.: stem width—maximum, 13 mm.; minimum, 10 mm.; average, 12 mm.: stem length—maximum, 12 mm.; minimum, 9 mm.; average, 11 mm.: thickness—maximum, 9 mm.; minimum, 6 mm.; average, 7 mm.