GUNTERSVILLE, Cambron (This Paper): A-59
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small to medium-sized, lanceolate point with straight base and excurvate blade.
MEASUREMENTS: Seven cotypes, including the illustrated example, ranged in measurements as follows: length—maximum, 50 mm.; minimum, 33 mm.; average, 35 mm.: width at base—maximum, 18 mm.; minimum, 10 mm.; average, 14 mm.: thickness—maximum, 6 mm.; minimum, 4 mm.; average, 5 mm. The blade width of four examples ranged from a maximum of 21 mm. to a minimum of 13 mm. and averaged 16 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is usually flattened but may be biconvex. The blade is excurvate. The widest point may be at the base or somewhat below the midsection. The distal end is acute. Side edges of the hafting area may be parallel or slightly contracted. (It is difficult to define the extent of the hafting area on examples with contracted side edges.) The basal edge is straight and thinned.
FLAKING: Broad, shallow, random, flaking appears on the faces with fine secondary flaking along the blade edges and sides of the hafting area. Fairly long, often broad, flakes were removed in order to thin the basal edge. Local materials were used.
COMMENTS: The type was named after sites in Guntersville Basin of the Tennessee River where many examples are found. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 12, Limestone County, Alabama. Six examples in association with Madison points, a stone disc and other artifacts were taken from Burial 6, Site Lu 92, Lauderdale County, Alabama (Webb and DeJarnette, 1942). Examples illustrated along with Madison and Ft. Ancient points, were described as Dallas component triangular points by Lewis and Kneberg (1946). Both Guntersville Lanceolate and Madison points were illustrated and described by Kneberg (1956) as Late Mississippi Triangular. She states, "In eastern Tennessee it is equally numerous in the Mouse Creek and Dallas Cultures, and occurs in smaller numbers in historic Cherokee sites" (1956). The type was classified as Type W in the Guntersville Basin where it appeared in association with trade goods in several historic burials. A burial at Lewis Bluff in Wheeler Basin of Tennessee River (Cambron and Waters, 1959a) yielded examples in association with Madison points, complicated-stamped sherds and plain, shell-tempered ware, an elbow-clay pipe and other artifacts. Two examples were recovered from the middle section of Stratum I and upper half of Stratum I (Woodland and Mississippian) at Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961). Guntersville Lanceolate appears to be associated with late Mississippian and historic cultures in the Tennessee Valley. Kneberg (1956) suggests a probable date of 1300 A. D. to 1800 A. D.