Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I Point Types Part 14

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The McIntire point is a medium sized, expanded stem point with straight base and excurvate blade edges.

MEASUREMENTS: Eleven cotypes, including the ill.u.s.trated 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

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 ill.u.s.trated example is from Cambron Site 28, one of the sh.e.l.lmound type sites in Limestone County, Alabama. In North Alabama this type is a.s.sociated with Archaic sh.e.l.lmounds along the Tennessee River. Most expanded stem examples ill.u.s.trated 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 sh.e.l.lmounds, and a few probable examples are ill.u.s.trated from Wheeler Basin (Webb, 1939). The type may be coeval with Limestone Stemmed points. a.s.sociations in surface collections indicate a middle to late Archaic placement. Before recognition of the type some examples may have been cla.s.sified as Provisional Type 2, expanded stem.

McKEAN, =Wheeler= (Wheeler, 1952): A-103

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small to medium sized lanceolate point with thinned, incurvate base.

MEASUREMENTS: Nine examples from eastern Wyoming, ill.u.s.trated 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 ill.u.s.trated 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The type was named from examples from sites in Keyhole Reservoir in northeastern Wyoming (Wheeler, 1952). The ill.u.s.trated 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 b.u.t.te, 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.

MONTGOMERY, =Cambron= (This paper): A-121

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.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

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 ill.u.s.trated example, were recovered. The type is a.s.sociated with sand and clay-grit tempered pottery in Montgomery and Escambia counties, indicating a Woodland a.s.sociation in this area.

MORROW MOUNTAIN, =Coe= (Coe, 1959): A-61

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium sized, rounded stem point with excurvate blade.

MEASUREMENTS: Eleven plesiotypes from Limestone County, Alabama, including the ill.u.s.trated 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

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 ill.u.s.trated example is from Cambron Site 76 (Pine Tree) in Limestone County, Alabama. The type had been ill.u.s.trated 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 a.s.sociated 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 a.s.sociation, as do surface collections in the Tennessee River Valley.

MORROW MOUNTAIN ROUNDED BASE, =Cambron= (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962): A-61-b

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.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The type was named because of similarities and a.s.sociations with Morrow Mountain points (Coe, 1959) from sites near Morrow Mountain in the North Carolina Piedmont area. The ill.u.s.trated 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 a.s.sociated with Burial No. 11 and two examples were found in a.s.sociation 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 a.s.sociation in Alabama is suggested.

MORROW MOUNTAIN STRAIGHT BASE, =Cambron= (Cambron and Hulse, 1960b): A-61-a

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium sized point with contracted stem and straight base.

MEASUREMENTS: Eleven plesiotypes, including the ill.u.s.trated 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

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 ill.u.s.trated 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 a.s.sociated 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.

MOTLEY, =Haag= (Ford, Phillips and Haag, 1955): A-109

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 ill.u.s.trated 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.