COMMENTS: The type name was derived from the Benton Stemmed point, to which it seems to be closely associated both typologically and culturally. The outstanding differences between the two are the exceptionally broad stem and broader, shorter blade of the Benton Broad Stem point. The type does not appear as frequently or in as great numbers as Benton Stemmed. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 48, Lincoln County, Tennessee. Due to its association with Benton Stemmed and Buzzard Roost Creek points, it is considered to be an Archaic point and is probably coeval with these types, dating from about 4000 B.C. to 2000 B.C.
BENTON STEMMED, Kneberg (Kneberg, 1956): A-9
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large, stemmed point with steeply beveled stem edges.
MEASUREMENTS: The measurements of five cotypes from which measurements and traits were taken are: length—maximum, 97 mm.; minimum, 45 mm.; average, 65 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 30 mm.; minimum, 25 mm.; average, 29 mm.: stem width—maximum, 20 mm.; minimum, 16 mm.; average, 17 mm.: stem length—maximum, 11 mm.; minimum, 8 mm.; average, 9 mm.: thickness—maximum, 9 mm.; minimum, 5 mm.; average, 7 mm. Measurements of the illustrated example are: length, 53 mm.; shoulder width, 28 mm.; stem width, 19 mm.; stem length, 9 mm.; thickness, 8 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex to flattened. The shoulders are narrow and, rarely, barbed. They may be horizontal or slightly tapered. The blade is usually recurvate, but may be excurvate with an acute distal end. The stem is relatively broad and short with straight, beveled side edges. It may be tapered or expanded. The steeply beveled basal edge may be straight or incurvate.
FLAKING: The random, primary flaking used to shape the face of the blade and stem is broad and shallow. Some areas seem to be only slightly modified and exhibit some blade scars. The retouching along the blade edges is broad and shallow. Short, broad flakes are used to shape the stem and bevel the stem edges. These appear to be the result of indirect percussion.
COMMENTS: The type was named for Benton County, Tennessee. The illustrated example is from Hulse Site 17, Limestone County, Alabama. The type is found in the Tennessee River Valley and in western Tennessee along the Mississippi River (Bell, 1960). At the Eva Site, in Benton County, Tennessee, the cultural association is with the early Big Sandy component (Lewis and Lewis, 1961). Practically all the types recovered from Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter were from Zone A, where the first ten levels contained examples. The more frequent occurrence of the type in Levels 4 through 9, Zone A, is an indication of Archaic association (DeJarnette, Kurjack, Cambron, 1962). At Rock House Shelter, University of Alabama Site Ms 201, in Marshall County, Levels 5, 7, 8 and 11 produced one point each. This indicates an early Archaic association at this site. At Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961), all examples were in middle- and upper-stratum II (Archaic). At Little Bear Creek, Ct 8 (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b), examples were recovered from the two-foot level through the eight-foot level, most examples being from the lower three levels. The type appeared in Zones A, B, C and D at Flint River, Mound Ma 48 (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a); it was most frequent in Zone C. A strict Archaic association dating from about 4000 B.C. to 2000 B.C. is suggested.