Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I Point Types Part 3

BENTON STEMMED, =Kneberg= (Kneberg, 1956): A-9

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large, stemmed point with steeply beveled stem edges.

MEASUREMENTS: The measurements of five cotypes from which measurements and traits were taken are: length--maximum, 97 mm.; minimum, 45 mm.; average, 65 mm.: shoulder width--maximum, 30 mm.; minimum, 25 mm.; average, 29 mm.: stem width--maximum, 20 mm.; minimum, 16 mm.; average, 17 mm.: stem length--maximum, 11 mm.; minimum, 8 mm.; average, 9 mm.: thickness--maximum, 9 mm.; minimum, 5 mm.; average, 7 mm. Measurements of the ill.u.s.trated example are: length, 53 mm.; shoulder width, 28 mm.; stem width, 19 mm.; stem length, 9 mm.; thickness, 8 mm.

FORM: The cross-section is biconvex to flattened. The shoulders are narrow and, rarely, barbed. They may be horizontal or slightly tapered.

The blade is usually recurvate, but may be excurvate with an acute distal end. The stem is relatively broad and short with straight, beveled side edges. It may be tapered or expanded. The steeply beveled basal edge may be straight or incurvate.

FLAKING: The random, primary flaking used to shape the face of the blade and stem is broad and shallow. Some areas seem to be only slightly modified and exhibit some blade scars. The retouching along the blade edges is broad and shallow. Short, broad flakes are used to shape the stem and bevel the stem edges. These appear to be the result of indirect percussion.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The type was named for Benton County, Tennessee. The ill.u.s.trated example is from Hulse Site 17, Limestone County, Alabama.

The type is found in the Tennessee River Valley and in western Tennessee along the Mississippi River (Bell, 1960). At the Eva Site, in Benton County, Tennessee, the cultural a.s.sociation is with the early Big Sandy component (Lewis and Lewis, 1961). Practically all the types recovered from Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter were from Zone A, where the first ten levels contained examples. The more frequent occurrence of the type in Levels 4 through 9, Zone A, is an indication of Archaic a.s.sociation (DeJarnette, Kurjack, Cambron, 1962). At Rock House Shelter, University of Alabama Site Ms 201, in Marshall County, Levels 5, 7, 8 and 11 produced one point each. This indicates an early Archaic a.s.sociation at this site. At Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961), all examples were in middle- and upper-stratum II (Archaic). At Little Bear Creek, Ct 8 (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b), examples were recovered from the two-foot level through the eight-foot level, most examples being from the lower three levels. The type appeared in Zones A, B, C and D at Flint River, Mound Ma 48 (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a); it was most frequent in Zone C. A strict Archaic a.s.sociation dating from about 4000 B.C. to 2000 B.C. is suggested.

BIG SANDY, =Lewis and Kneberg= (Cambron and Hulse, 1960a): A-10 A-11

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small to medium, side-notched point. The basal edges and/or notches are usually ground. The blade edges may be serrated and/or beveled.

MEASUREMENTS: The range of measurements of 14 examples from an excavation on the Quad Site (Cambron and Hulse, 1960a) are: length, 35-56 mm.; width, 18-20 mm.; thickness, 6-8 mm. Measurements of the ill.u.s.trated example are: length, 41 mm.; shoulder width, 20 mm.; width at base, 21 mm.; notch depth, 4 mm.; notch width, 6mm.; thickness, 6mm.

Later unground examples from the Big Sandy Site in Henry County, Tennessee, range in length from 44 mm. to 89 mm. and average near 64 mm.

(Bell, 1960).

FLAKING: The flaking is variable, but usually is good. Random flaking is usually employed to shape the faces of the blade and hafting area; retouch is evident along the edges. The side notches appear to have been made by broad percussion flaking. Rare examples show oblique flaking (Kneberg, 1956).

FORM: The cross-section is usually biconvex but may be rhomboid, plano-convex, or median ridged. The blade may be excurvate or straight.

Of the 22 whole and broken examples recovered, 62% are beveled on one side of each blade face and 8% are serrated. The distal end is acute.

The hafting area is side-notched. The notches average about 5 mm. deep and 7 mm. wide, and are nearly always ground. Of the 22 measured examples, 43% have incurvate bases, 32% have slightly excurvate bases, and 25% have straight bases. The bases are usually thinned, and 50% of the 22 examples have ground bases. The part of the hafting area between the notches and the base may be straight or auriculated. Rarely, the basal edge is parallel pointed.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The point is named for the Big Sandy I phase of the Archaic period (Lewis and Kneberg, 1959). The ill.u.s.trated example is from Hulse Site 38 (Pine Tree), Limestone County, Alabama. Examples were found in a.s.sociation with a fluted midsection, Wheeler, Dalton, and Quad points on the Quad Site (Cambron and Hulse, 1960a). Ritchie, in New York (1961), described the type as the Otter Creek point. The type was dated at Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter by radiocarbon method at near 10,000 B.P. (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962). Similar examples from Danger Cave, Utah, were listed by Jennings (1957) as types W4, W25, and W26. Type W4 was recovered only from Level II, where the radiocarbon dates were 9789 630 B.P. and 8960 340 B.P. This type was described in earlier editions of this book as Big Sandy I. An unground variant, also described in earlier editions of this book as Big Sandy II, Code, No.

A-11, were numerous in the Three Mile Phase at the Eva Site (Lewis and Lewis, 1961). Kneberg suggests a date of from 3500 B.C. to 1000 B.C. for this variant (1959).

BIG SANDY AURICULATE, =Cambron= (This Paper): A-133

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small to medium sized, side-notched point with auriculate, incurvate base and excurvate blade edges. The basal edges and/or notches are nearly always ground.

MEASUREMENTS: Eight examples from Cave Spring (Moebes, 1974) provided the following measurements: length, 30-45 mm.; average, 39 mm.; shoulder width, 16-26 mm.; average, 22 mm.: stem width, 18-23 mm.; average, 21 mm.: stem length, 10-13 mm.; average, 11 mm.: thickness, 6-9 mm.; average, 8 mm.: basal concavity, 1-3 mm.; average, 2 mm.: width in notches, 10-17 mm.; average, 14 mm.: notch width, 6-10 mm.; average, 8 mm.: notch depth, 3-7 mm.; average, 4 mm.: stem length below notches, 4-6 mm.; average, 5 mm.

FLAKING: Fifty percent show collateral flaking and 50% show random flaking.

FORM: Seventy-four percent of the cross-sections are biconvex, 13% are plano-convex and 13% are median ridged. All blade edges are excurvate.

All bases are incurvate. All bases and notches are ground and 75% of the stem edges are ground. Fifty percent have shoulder barbs and all examples are patinated. Thirteen percent have ac.u.minate distal ends and 87% have acute distal ends.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The provenience of 9 examples, used to define this type of Big Sandy point is as follows: Stratum I; Level 3, 1 (probably out of context); Stratum II: Level 7, 2; Level 8, 2; Stratum III: Level 7, 1; Level 10, 1; Level 12, 2. Five examples of similar type (W4) from Level II at Danger Cave (Jennings, 1957) were dated by radiocarbon samples at 9789 630 B.P. and 8960 340 B.P. One example was recovered from Stratum II at Flint Creek Rock Shelter, Fig. 55 (Cambron and Waters, 1958).

BIG SANDY BROAD BASE, =Cambron= (This Paper): A-134

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium sized, side-notched, trianguloid point with blade edges that are usually excurvate but may be straight or recurvate. Most examples are serrated. The basal edges and/or notches are usually ground.

MEASUREMENTS: Eleven examples from DeKalb County, Tennessee, 1 example from Warren County, Tennessee, and 3 examples from Cave Spring (Moebes, 1974) provided the following features and measurements: length, 37-53 mm.; average, 44 mm.: shoulder width, 21-38 mm.; average, 25 mm.: stem width, 23-32 mm.; average, 29 mm.: stem length, 11-17 mm.; average, 15 mm.: thickness, 5-10 mm.; average, 7 mm.: basal concavity, 1-4 mm.; average, 2 mm.: width in notches, 17-23 mm.; average, 19 mm.: notch width, 6-9 mm.; average, 7 mm.: notch depth, 3-5 mm.; average, 4 mm.: stem length below notches, 6-10 mm.; average, 8 mm.

FLAKING: Random flaking was employed in shaping the blade and hafting area. The notches were formed by well controlled pressure flaking.

FORM: Thirty percent of the cross-sections are biconvex, 50% are flattened, 5% are plano-convex and 15% are rhomboid. Eighty percent of the blade edges are excurvate, 10% are straight, 10% are asymmetrical, 54% are serrated, 18% are beveled on one edge of each face, 41% have incurvate bases, 59% have straight bases. The basal edges and notches are usually ground and thinned. All examples are patinated. Eighty-four percent of the distal ends are acute and 16 are ac.u.minate.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The three examples from Cave Spring were randomly flaked, and rhomboid in cross-section. All three had blade edges that were serrated and beveled on one edge of each face. They were ground in the notches as well as on the base and stem edges. The distal ends were acute. Three other examples from Cave Spring were either broken or reworked and could be not meaningfully measured but the provenience of all six examples is: Stratum II; Level 5, 1; Stratum III; Level 7, 1; Level 8, 1; Level 9, 1; Level 10, 2. An early Archaic or Transitional Paleo placement is suggested.

BIG SANDY CONTRACTED BASE, =Cambron= (This Paper): A-132

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small to medium sized, side-notched point with a contracting stem and an incurvate base. Most examples show collateral flaking and shallow serrations along the blade edges.

MEASUREMENTS: Seven cotypes supplied the following features: length, 35-60 mm.; average, 45 mm.; shoulder width, 20-26 mm.; average, 23 mm.: stem width, 20-25 mm.; average, 23 mm.: stem length, 12-16 mm.; average, 14 mm.: thickness, 5-8 mm.; average, 7 mm.: basal concavity, 3-6 mm.; average, 5 mm.: width in notches, 13-16 mm.; average, 15 mm.: notch width, 3-5 mm.; average, 4 mm.: notch depth, 3-5 mm.; average, 4 mm.: stem length below notches, 8-13 mm.: average, 11 mm.

FLAKING: Shallow pressure flaking was used to thin the basal edge. Well controlled pressure flaking was employed to shape the side notches. All blade surfaces exhibit collateral flaking.

FORM: Seventy percent of the cross-sections are median ridged; 15% are biconvex; and 15% are plano-convex. Fifty-seven percent of the blade edges are straight and 43% are excurvate. Eighty-four percent have shallow serrations along the blade edges. Bases are usually thinned and all of them are ground. Eighty-four percent of the stem edges and all notches are ground. All examples are patinated. Forty percent have acute distal ends and 60% of the distal ends are ac.u.minate.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The provenience of seven examples, from the Cave Spring Site, (Moebes, 1974) used to define this type of Big Sandy point is as follows: Level 5, 2; Level 7, 1; Level 8, 1; Stratum II. Level 7, 1; Level 8, 1; Level 9, 1; Level 10, 2; Level 11, 1; Stratum III. A similar type was described by Jennings (1957) from Danger Cave, Utah is listed as Type W 17 where dates of 9787 plus or minus 630 B.P. and 8960 plus or minus 340 B.P. were secured from levels containing this type. Two examples were cla.s.sified from the collection of Steve Maloney Site DK 2 in DeKalb County, Tennessee.

BIG SLOUGH, =Hulse= (Cambron and Hulse, 1960b): A-12

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large point with a broad expanded stem.

MEASUREMENTS: The range of measurements of 11 cotypes from Morgan and Limestone Counties near Decatur, Alabama are: length--maximum, 85 mm.; minimum, 49 mm.; average, 62 mm.: shoulder width--maximum, 42 mm.; minimum, 29 mm.; average, 34 mm.: stem width--maximum, 28 mm.; minimum, 20 mm.; average, 25 mm.: stem length--maximum, 17 mm.; minimum, 14 mm.; average, 15 mm.: thickness--maximum, 9 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 8 mm. Measurements of the ill.u.s.trated example are: length, 85 mm.; shoulder width, 38 mm.; stem width, 28 mm.; stem length, 14 mm.; thickness, 9 mm.

FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. The shoulders are inversely tapered with narrow barbs that may be expanded, especially on examples with recurvate blade edges. The blade may be excurvate or recurvate; rarely, excurvate-recurvate. One example of the cotypes has one straight and one recurvate blade edge. About half the blade edges are asymmetrical. The distal end is usually acute but may be apiculate. The stem is broad and long and expanded by shallow diagonal notches. The stem side edges may be slightly incurvate, slightly excurvate, or straight. The basal edge is excurvate, thin, and usually ground.

FLAKING: Most examples are made by broad, shallow, random flaking, but a considerable number show collateral flaking. Several have random flaking on one face and collateral on the other. The blade edges usually show rather broad retouching with some fine flaking along the retouched edges that gives a somewhat crushed effect, as does the baton method of percussion flaking. The notches appear to have been formed by indirect percussion flaking with some retouch. The basal edge is thinned by removal of broad, shallow flakes. The stem is usually finely retouched on all edges.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The point is named for the Big Slough area in Limestone County, Alabama, where many examples are found on the surface with early Archaic types. The ill.u.s.trated example is from Hulse Site 18, Limestone County, Alabama. At Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962), one example each was recovered from Levels 1, 5, 6, 8 and 9 of Zone A. At University of Alabama Site Ms 201, Rock House Shelter, in Marshall County, Alabama, Levels 4 and 5 produced one example each. One example was recovered from Zone C (Archaic) at Ma 48, Flint River Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a). This evidence suggests a cultural a.s.sociation of from early Archaic to middle Archaic times, with a probable age range of about 5000 B.C. to 2000 B.C.

BRADLEY SPIKE, =Kneberg= (Kneberg, 1956): A-14