Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I Point Types Part 4

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Bradley Spike is a small to medium-sized, spike-shaped, stemmed point.

MEASUREMENTS: The measurements of the 13 plesiotypes upon which description of form was based (included is the ill.u.s.trated specimen from Ma 48, Flint River Site, Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a) are: length--maximum, 65 mm.; minimum, 40 mm.; average, 51 mm.: shoulder width--maximum, 17 mm.; minimum, 10 mm.; average, 15 mm.: stem width--maximum, 12 mm.; minimum, 8 mm.; average, 11 mm.: stem length--maximum, 15 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 11 mm.: thickness--maximum, 14 mm.; minimum, 6 mm.; average, 10 mm.

FORM: The cross-section is usually median ridged but may, rarely, be plano-convex or biconvex. The shoulders are usually tapered and may be asymmetrical. The blade may be straight or slightly convex; the distal end is sharply acute. The hafting area is stemmed and the stem is usually straight but may be tapered. Stem side edges are straight; the basal edge of the stem is usually excurvate but may be straight and may exhibit some of the patinated rind of the parent material from which the point was made.

FLAKING: Some examples are almost as thick as they are broad. The steep, percussion, random flaking used to shape the point may be struck from alternate faces to produce an irregular blade edge outline. Occasional retouch, that appears to have been done by percussion flaking, is evident; but no regular pressure retouch is present.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The type was named for Bradley County, Tennessee, where it was first recognized. The ill.u.s.trated specimen is from Ma 48 (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a). Ten examples were recovered from Zone A at the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962), eight specimens from the upper four levels and one each from Levels 7 and 9. One example was recovered from Level 5 at University of Alabama Site Ms 201 (Rock House). Of the 34 examples from Flint River Mound Ma 48 (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a), 18 were from Zone A and 16 from Zone B.

The evidence supports Kneberg's (1956) a.n.a.lysis of early Woodland cultural a.s.sociation since examples are found in early Woodland a.s.sociation at these sites. However, most of the points were found in the upper Woodland stratum, indicating a later Woodland a.s.sociation in the North Alabama area, possibly dating from about 2000 B.C. to sometime A.D.

BREWERTON, EARED-NOTCHED, =Ritchie= (Ritchie, 1961): A-127

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small trianguloid point with shallow side notches.

MEASUREMENTS: The measurements of four plesiotypes (including the ill.u.s.trated example) from which descriptions were taken are: maximum, 40 mm.; minimum, 27 mm.; average, 33 mm.: shoulder width--maximum, 18 mm.; minimum, 14 mm.; average, 16 mm.: stem length--maximum, 9 mm.; minimum, 6 mm.; average, 7 mm.: stem width--maximum, 20 mm.; minimum, 16 mm.; average, 18 mm.: thickness--maximum, 6 mm.; minimum, 5 mm.; average 6 mm.

FORM: The blade edges may be straight or excurvate. The cross-section is biconvex. The base may be straight or excurvate. The hafting area is shallowly side notched forming weak auricles.

FLAKING: The blade and hafting area display broad, shallow random flaking. Some broad retouching was used to finish the blade and hafting area edges. The notches were formed by shallow pressure flaking after the blade was finished, thus forming the auricles.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: Brewerton Eared-Notched is one of four Brewerton types described by Ritchie (Ritchie, 1961). The other three types were listed as Brewerton Eared-Triangular, Brewerton Corner-Notched and Brewerton Side-Notched. Ritchie (Ritchie, 1961) considers the Brewerton complex to be a part of the upper middle and late Archaic horizons in New York and New England. The examples that provided the type description, including the ill.u.s.trated example, are from the Etowah River Site, Bartow County, Georgia. They were excavated by James Chapman and others and were a.s.sociated with ceramics at this site. One example was recovered from Level 6, Stratum I at Cave Spring in Morgan County, Alabama (Moebes, 1974).

BUZZARD ROOST CREEK, =Cambron= (Cambron, 1958a): A-89

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large, bifurcated-stemmed point.

MEASUREMENTS: The measurements of nine cotypes (including the ill.u.s.trated example) from which features were taken are: length--maximum, 104 mm.; minimum, 61 mm.; average, 82 mm.: shoulder width--maximum, 36 mm.; minimum, 27 mm.; average, 30 mm.: stem width--maximum, 23 mm.; minimum, 17 mm.; average, 19 mm.: stem length--maximum, 12 mm.; minimum, 10 mm.; average, 11 mm.: thickness--eight examples measured 8 mm. and one example measured 7 mm.

FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. The shoulders are usually inversely tapered and the barbs usually expanded. The blade is recurvate with an acute distal end. The stem is usually straight but may be expanded, with straight or incurvate side edges. The basal edge of the stem is usually bifurcated but may be auriculate. Usually all of the stem edges are beveled. Points made of adaptable material are usually patinated.

FLAKING: The flaking used to shape the blade and stem is usually random, broad, and thin; rarely, it is collateral. The secondary flaking along the edges of the blade is long and shallow. The short deep scars left by flaking used to bevel the stem edges may be the result of indirect percussion, possibly with some pressure flaking. The flaking used to bifurcate the stem appears to be of the same type as that used to bevel the stem edges.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The type was named for Buzzard Roost Creek Site (Cambron Site 158), in Colbert County, Alabama, where the ill.u.s.trated example was recovered. The original description has been revised to exclude those examples with straight or slightly incurvate stem bases, since these examples are cla.s.sified as Benton Stemmed--to which Buzzard Roost Creek is culturally and typologically related. Examples at Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) appeared in Zone A, Levels 2 through 8, with concentrations in Levels 6 and 7. Three examples were recovered from the middle and upper parts of Stratum II at Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961). At Little Bear Creek (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b) examples were recovered from four-foot through eight-foot levels, with most examples from the six-foot level. This appears to be an early to middle Archaic type found in northern Alabama and southern Tennessee.

CAMP CREEK, =Kneberg= (Kneberg, 1956): A-16

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small to medium, triangular point with incurvate base.

MEASUREMENTS: The measurements of the ill.u.s.trated example are: length, 35 mm.; width at base, 16 mm.; thickness, 7 mm.; depth of basal concavity, 2 mm.

FORM: The cross-section is usually biconvex. The blade is usually straight; rarely, incurvate or excurvate. The distal end is acute. The base is incurvate and usually thinned with some fine retouch.

FLAKING: The flaking used to shape the blade and hafting area is random and fairly well executed. Some fine retouch is in evidence along the blade edges. Much of the flint and quartzite used at the Camp Creek Site has poor flaking qualities, resulting in a poorly manufactured point.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The type was named from the Camp Creek Site (Cambron Site 284) on the Nolichucky River in Greene County, Tennessee. The ill.u.s.trated specimen is from Zone A of the Camp Creek Site (Lewis and Kneberg, 1957). This example was selected by Cambron from his collection from Camp Creek (Site 284) as typical of the type. Although a minority type in all levels at this site, it is found with burials more frequently than are other types. It comprises about 15% of the stemless points in Level D, but in other levels does not exceed 6% (Lewis and Kneberg, 1957). The type appears to be a part of the Greeneville complex, found along the western edge of the Appalachians southwest from the Greeneville, Tennessee, area into south-central Alabama. It is usually a.s.sociated with the early to middle Woodland period. Some other points that appear in this complex are Greeneville, Nolichucky, Triangular Copena, Coosa, and possibly Ebenezer. At the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) Zone A, four examples were found in Level 1, five in Level 2, one in Level 3 and three in Level 4. This indicates a Woodland a.s.sociation at this site. Most of the examples recovered from Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961) were in the lower three-quarters of Stratum I (Woodland). One example was recovered from Level 1 and one from Level 2 at Rock House Shelter in Marshall County, Alabama (University of Alabama Site Ms 201).

Ten examples were recovered from Zones A and B (Woodland) and two from Zone D (Archaic) at Flint River Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a).

Kneberg suggests a date of from about 1000 B.C. to 500 A.D.

CANDY CREEK, =Kneberg= (Kneberg, 1956): A-17

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium-sized, auriculate point with recurvate edges and incurvate base.

MEASUREMENTS: The ill.u.s.trated example measures 50 mm. long, 22 mm. wide at widest point of blade, 25 mm. wide at base, 21 mm. wide across hafting constriction, 9 mm. thick, 3 mm. deep at basal concavity.

FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. The blade is recurvate; the distal end, acute. The auriculated hafting area is usually expanded-rounded with an incurvate basal edge. The base is occasionally fluted or thinned. The hafting area edges may be lightly ground, as are most Copena and Copena Triangular points, with which they are frequently a.s.sociated.

FLAKING: The flaking used to shape the blade and hafting area is usually shallow and random. Fine retouching employed to finish the blade and hafting area edges is usually evident. Although there appears to be no connection between this type and Paleo fluted types, the hafting method must have been very similar. The flutes, when present, appear to be nothing more than results of attempts to thin the base, as they are usually broad and shallow. Copena and Copena Triangular types were probably hafted in about the same manner as Candy Creek points.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The name is derived from Candy Creek Site in Bradley County, Tennessee. The ill.u.s.trated specimen is a plesiotype from Cambron 53, Morgan County, Alabama. Of 1552 points at Camp Creek, 9 were cla.s.sified as Candy Creek (Lewis and Kneberg, 1957). One example was recovered from Zone A, Level 1 at the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962). Two examples, one from Level 2 and one from Level 3, were recovered from Rock House Shelter in Marshall County, Alabama (University of Alabama Site Ms 201). Twenty-three examples from Cambron Site 53 at Bakers Creek in Morgan County, Alabama, were a.s.sociated with other Woodland types. Kneberg (1956) suggests an age of from 1000 B.C. to 500 A.D.

CAVE SPRING, =Cambron= (This Paper): A-126

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Cave Spring is a small to medium sized, bifurcated point with an expanded stem.

MEASUREMENTS: Seven cotypes from Strata II and III of the Cave Spring type site (Moebes, 1974) provided the following traits and measurements: length, 50-32 mm.; average, 40 mm.: shoulder width, 25-17 mm.; average, 20 mm.: stem width, 17-11 mm.; average, 15 mm.: stem length, 17-10 mm.; average, 13 mm.: thickness, 6-5 mm.; average 6 mm. The ill.u.s.trated example, from Stratum III, measures 50 mm. in length, 20 mm. in shoulder width, 14 mm. in stem width, 16 mm. in stem length and 6 mm. in thickness. Stratum III points averaged longer and slightly narrower than points from Stratum II.

FORM: The cross-section is usually biconvex but may be plano-convex or rarely median ridged. Shoulders are usually tapered but may be barbed or rarely horizontal. Blade edges are nearly always straight, rarely excurvate. The distal end is usually acute; rarely broad. The hafting area consists of an expanded stem that is shallowly bifurcated. Stem width usually exceeds the stem length.

FLAKING: Broad, shallow, random flaking is in evidence on the stem and blade. Collateral flaking was used to finish the blades of most examples. Fine retouch is present along most blade edges. Long shallow flakes were removed to thin the base in the basal concavity. One example from Level 5, Stratum II, had diagonal flakes struck from the base in the same tradition as Decatur points. One large flake was struck from each side of each face of the stem forming a shallow notch where the stem joins the blade. These notches and all other stem edges are usually ground. All examples were made of local material and all were patinated.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COMMENTS: The type was named after the Cave Spring Site in Morgan County, Alabama, where examples were recognized during excavation. The ill.u.s.trated example is from Level 8, Stratum III. Except for the bifurcated stem some examples are similar to some of the Jude points recovered in this excavation. Some of the blades of Cave Spring points are similar to blades of some Big Sandy points recovered at this site.

The provenience and a.s.sociations at this site strongly suggest a late Transitional Paleo-Indian affiliation as well as early Archaic. One example from the Big Sandy Site in Tennessee is shown in Fig. E, Plate 4 (Bell, 1960). One example is ill.u.s.trated from the Packard Site, Mays County, Oklahoma, Plate VIII, Fig. 3 (Wyckoff, 1964).

CLOVIS, =(Suhm, Krieger and Jelks, 1954)=: A-19

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large, auriculate, fluted point with incurvate base.

MEASUREMENTS: The maximum measurements, in mm., of 59 examples from 44 sites in the Tennessee River valley (Soday and Cambron, n. d.) average: length, 66; width, 27; thickness, 7. The length of the longest example is 154; of the shortest, 35. The weight of the largest is 60 grams; of the shortest, 5 grams. Maximum measurements of fourteen examples of "Fine Clovis" from 13 sites average 59 mm. long, 25 mm. wide, 6 mm.

thick. The length of the longest is 109 mm.; of the shortest, 29 mm. The weight of the longest is 27 grams, of the shortest, 3 grams. Texas examples (Suhm, Krieger and Jelks, 1954) range from 69 mm. to 140 mm. in length and 20 mm. to 40 mm. in width. The range of 66 examples from New York State (Ritchie, 1961) is: length, about 25 mm. to about 127 mm.; thickness, 3 mm. to 10 mm. The ill.u.s.trated example measures 110 mm.

long, 31 mm. wide at widest point, 28 mm. wide at base, 27 mm. wide across basal constriction, 9 mm. thick. The longest flute measures 29 mm.; the shortest flute, 28. Flute width is 19 mm.