MULBERRY CREEK, DeJarnette (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962): A-63
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large, stemmed point with pronounced excurvate blade.
MEASUREMENTS: Ten cotypes, from the Little Bear Creek Shell Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b) provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 116 mm.; minimum, 81 mm.; average, 96 mm.: blade width—maximum, 36 mm.; minimum, 22 mm.; average. 30 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 30 mm.; minimum, 20 mm.; average, 25 mm.: stem width—maximum, 20 mm.; minimum, 12 mm.; average, 17 mm.: stem length—maximum, 16 mm.; minimum, 12 mm.; average, 15 mm.: thickness—maximum, 12 mm.; minimum, 9 mm.; average, 10 mm. The illustrated example provided the following measurements: length, 81 mm.; blade width, 30 mm.; shoulder width, 28 mm.; stem width, 17 mm.; stem length, 13 mm.; thickness, 10 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are narrow, usually tapered, and may be asymmetrical. Blade edges are excurvate, with the widest point near the midsection, and may be finely serrated. The distal end is usually acute but may be acuminate. The stem may be tapered or straight, rarely expanded. The basal edge is usually excurvate, but may be straight, and is poorly thinned. Stem edges are usually ground.
FLAKING: Broad, shallow, random flaking was used to shape the faces. Fine retouch was carried out along the blade edges. The stem edges were usually more crudely retouched. Local materials, especially Ft. Payne chert, were used.
COMMENTS: The type was named from examples from sites at and near Mulberry Creek in Colbert County, Alabama. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 8 in Morgan County, Alabama. One example was recovered from Level 1, Zone A at the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962). At the Little Bear Creek Site in Colbert County, Alabama (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b), six of the fourteen recovered examples were from the 2-foot level, two from the 1-foot level, two from Zone A (2.75'), two from the 3-foot level and two from the 6-foot level. This evidence indicates an introduction in middle Archaic times, a strong association to late Archaic, and survival into early Woodland at this site. At the Flint River Shell Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a) two examples were taken from Zone A (upper Woodland), one from Zone C (upper Archaic) and one from Zone D (lower Archaic). Based on this information and surface collection associations, a climax of the type in late shellmound Archaic is suggested for North Alabama. Distribution seems to be somewhat limited, although similar examples are illustrated from early Woodland Roskamp Focus of Illinois (Wray, 1950) and from Boone Focus (early Woodland) of central Missouri (Chapman, 1948).