KIRK CORNER NOTCHED, Coe (Coe, 1959): A-50
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium- to large-sized, corner notched point with blade edges that are usually serrated.
MEASUREMENTS: Coe (1959) lists the following measurements for the type: range of length—40 mm. to 100 mm., average length, 60 mm.; range of width—20 mm. to 45 mm., average width, 30 mm.; range of thickness—6 mm. to 12 mm., average thickness, 8 mm. The measurements of 15 plesiotypes from Cambron Sites 19 and 20 in Morgan County, Alabama, range as follows: length—69 mm. to 39 mm., average, 51 mm.: shoulder width—39 mm. to 29 mm., average, 34 mm.: stem width—29 mm. to 23 mm., average, 25 mm.: stem length—12 mm. to 9 mm., average, 11 mm.: thickness—10 mm. to 5 mm., average, 7 mm. Measurements of the illustrated example are: length, 59 mm.; shoulder width, 36 mm.; stem width, 25 mm.; stem length, 11 mm.; thickness, 7 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is usually flattened but may be biconvex. Shoulders are strongly barbed. The blade is usually excurvate but may be straight or recurvate. Blade edges are usually serrated and beveled on both sides of each face. The distal end is acute. The hafting area is corner notched. The notches average about 11 mm. deep and 5 mm. wide. Side edges of the expanded stem are straight and the stem base edge either straight, slightly incurvate or, rarely, excurvate. On Alabama examples, the stem base is thinned and usually ground, but basal grinding is rarely found on examples from the North Carolina Piedmont (Coe, personal communication).
FLAKING: The blade and hafting area are shaped by broad, shallow, random flaking. The edges are shaped by fine, regular, secondary flaking, which often resulted in serrations and beveled blade edges. The notches were formed by the removal of long, broad flakes, one from each side on each face. The edges of the notches were often retouched. Broad, shallow flakes were removed to thin the basal edge, which was then finely retouched. Local materials were used in the manufacture of these points.
COMMENTS: The type is named after examples excavated in the North Carolina Piedmont. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 19, Morgan County, Alabama. Coe (1959) estimates the age as about 8000 years ago at the type sites. Seven examples were recovered from Archaic Stratum II at Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961). At the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) one example each was recovered from Levels 1, 2, 6 and 9 in Zone A. One example was recovered from Level 6 at the University of Alabama Site Ms 201, Marshall County, Alabama. Practically all examples from surface collections are from early Archaic sites. Evidence suggests an early Archaic association, with ground base examples being earliest.