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 acuminate.
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.