Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I, Point Types

by James W. Cambron; David C. Hulse

FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. The blade is excurvate. The widest point may be either at the base or somewhat below the midsection, making the hafting area difficult to define. The distal end is acute. The basal edge is usually excurvate, but may be straight, and is usually thinned.

FLAKING: Broad, deep, random flaking appears on the faces, with some fine secondary flaking along the blade edges and sides of the hafting area. Short random flaking was used to thin the basal edge. Local materials were used.

COMMENTS: The type was named after the Benjamin site (Cambron Site 333) in Lawrence County, Alabama, where it was first recognized and appears in association with Woodland artifacts. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 19 in Morgan County, Alabama. At Cactus Rock Site Dk-101 in DeKalb County, Alabama, one example was recovered from Level 1 in association with Woodland point types and one example from Level 4 in association with Woodland and Archaic point types. At University of Alabama Site Dk-57 in DeKalb County, Alabama, the type was associated with Copena and Madison points. At University of Alabama Sites Lo-23 in Lowndes County, Alabama, and Lr-20 in Lamar County, Alabama, Benjamin points appear in Woodland strata. The association of Benjamin points at these sites seems to place the type within the Woodland period.

BENTON BROAD STEMMED, Cambron (This Paper): A-9-a

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large, broad-stemmed point with steeply beveled stem edges.

MEASUREMENTS: The measurements of the illustrated example are: length, 66 mm.; shoulder width, 32 mm.; stem width, 28 mm.; stem length, 11 mm.; thickness, 9 mm.

FORM: The cross-section may be flattened or biconvex. The shoulders are narrow and may be horizontal or tapered. The blade is usually excurvate, the distal end acute. The stem is usually slightly expanded, but may be straight. It is very broad and short. The stem side edges are usually incurvate or straight and beveled. The beveled basal edge is usually straight but may be slightly incurvate or excurvate.

FLAKING: The blade and stem display broad, shallow, random flaking. Some broad retouching was used to finish the blade and stem edges. The stem appears to have been formed by the removal of the corners of the original basal edge.