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 illustrated 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.
COMMENTS: The type was named for Buzzard Roost Creek Site (Cambron Site 158), in Colbert County, Alabama, where the illustrated example was recovered. The original description has been revised to exclude those examples with straight or slightly incurvate stem bases, since these examples are classified 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.