WASHINGTON, Cambron (This Paper): A-13
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a small, thick, side notched, serrated point.
MEASUREMENTS: Nine cotypes, including the illustrated example, provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 24 mm.; minimum, 16 mm.; average, 20 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 13 mm.; minimum, 9 mm.; average, 10 mm.: stem width—maximum, 11 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 9 mm.: stem length—maximum, 8 mm.; minimum, 5 mm.; average, 7 mm.: thickness—maximum, 6 mm.; minimum, 4 mm.; average, 5 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are inversely tapered. Blade edges may be excurvate or straight and are usually serrated. The distal end may be acute, sharply acute, or broad. The hafting area has broad, shallow side notches from 1 to 2 mm. deep and about 4 to 5 mm. wide. The expanded stem base may be excurvate or straight and is usually thinned.
FLAKING: Most of the points are made of white quartzite but show good workmanship. The blade and hafting area were formed by shallow, random flaking. The blade edges were serrated by the removal of broad, deep flakes. The side notches were formed by the removal of one broad, deep flake from each side of each face about one-third the length of the point from the base. Some retouching was carried out, especially near the distal end.
COMMENTS: The point was named for Washington County, Alabama, where the type was first recognized. Apparently an important type in this area of the state, it occurs in surface collections from late pottery-producing sites. The illustrated example is from Slater Site 7, Washington County, Alabama. The size indicates an arrow point. Perino (personal communication) reports examples from Woodland sites in Clinton County, Illinois.