MUD CREEK, Hulse (Cambron and Hulse, 1960b): A-62
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium sized, expanded stem point with excurvate blade and acuminate distal end.
MEASUREMENTS: Fourteen cotypes from Limestone County, Alabama, provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 67 mm.; minimum, 46 mm.; average, 56 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 29 mm.; minimum, 23 mm.; average, 26 mm.: stem width—maximum, 20 mm.; minimum, 14 mm.; average, 18 mm.: stem length—maximum, 17 mm.; minimum, 12 mm.; average, 14 mm.: thickness—maximum, 10 mm.; minimum, 8 mm.; average, 9 mm.
FLAKING: Broad, shallow, random flaking was used to shape the blade and hafting area. Small, fairly deep flakes were removed in retouching the blade and stem edges. Most stem bases have been thinned, but a few are crudely finished.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are usually tapered but may be horizontal and are sometimes rounded. Blade edges are excurvate. The distal end is sharply acute or acuminate. The stem is expanded, sometimes only slightly. Side edges are usually straight. The basal edge is usually thinned and straight but may be excurvate. About half of the examples have ground bases, and several bases retain rind from the parent material.
COMMENTS: It is named from points found on sites near Mud Creek in Limestone County, Alabama. The illustrated example is from Hulse Site 50 in Limestone County, Alabama. The type is similar to Lange points (Bell, 1958) in outline, but is narrower in proportion and differs in other features. At Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) one example each was recovered from Levels 1, 2, and 3; two from Level 5; one from Level 7; two from Level 9. This indicates a late Archaic to Woodland association at this site. At Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961) two examples were recovered from the bottom of Stratum I (Woodland) and two from the top of Stratum II (Archaic). One example appeared in Zone A (early Woodland or late Archaic) at the Little Bear Creek Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b). At Flint River Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a) Zone A (Woodland) produced one Mud Creek point; Zone B (lower Woodland), two examples; while the Archaic zones produced 25 examples, 22 from Zone C (upper Archaic), one from Zone C-D and two from Zone D (bottom Archaic). This indicates a strong late Archaic association at this site. This evidence and surface associations suggest a strong late Archaic type that existed into Woodland times.