COMMENTS: The type was named from sites near Abbey Creek in Henry and Houston counties, Alabama. They were associated with Elora and Maples points and probably were used during the Archaic period.
ADENA, Bell (Bell, 1958): A-1
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large point with a long, very broad, sometimes rounded stem.
MEASUREMENTS: The measurements of seven homotypes from which traits and measurements were taken are: length—maximum, 65 mm.; minimum, 50 mm.; average, 56 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 35 mm.; minimum, 32 mm.; average, 34 mm.: stem width—maximum, 27 mm.; minimum, 18 mm.; average, 24 mm.: stem length—maximum, 30 mm.; minimum, 15 mm.; average, 21 mm.: thickness—maximum, 9 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 8 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex with wide proportions. The shoulders may be horizontal or tapered, with an occasional weak barb. The blade shape is excurvate. The distal end is usually acute. The stem may be straight, contracted or slightly expanded. Some examples can be described as having a rounded stem. The stem base is either straight or excurvate. The basal edges may be lightly ground.
FLAKING: The blade and stem are shaped with strong random flaking, with some retouch along most edges.
COMMENTS: The name Adena is derived from the point's association with the Adena culture. The illustrated specimen is from Cambron Site 48, Lincoln County, Tennessee. The measured examples are from this site and Cambron Site 50, Limestone County, Alabama. Most examples are made from local materials. The type is associated with early Woodland in the eastern United States. Kneberg (1956) indicates an Archaic association in Tennessee. In Alabama, the Adena point seems to appear on both Archaic and Woodland sites. One example was found in Level 1, Zone A, and one example in Zone C at the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962). One example was found in Stratum II (Archaic) at the Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961). Scattered examples are known from most of North Alabama. The Alabama points closely resemble examples from Ohio, illustrated by Bell (1958) and Webb and Baby (1957), as well as some examples from an Adena mound at Natrium, West Virginia (Solecki, 1953). Examples from New York with unground bases are described by Ritchie (1961). Radiocarbon dates from Adena sites in Ohio and Kentucky (Webb and Baby, 1957) suggest an age of from 800 B. C. to 800 A. D.