MEASUREMENTS: The 16 autotypes (including the illustrated example from the type site) which provided the features described below range in measurements as follows: length—maximum, 74 mm.; minimum, 43 mm.; average, 56 mm.: width at distal end of hafting area—maximum, 31 mm.; minimum, 20 mm.; average, 24 mm.: width at base—maximum, 31 mm.; minimum, 19 mm.; average, 25 mm.: thickness—maximum, 10 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 8 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is nearly always biconvex; rarely, it is plano-convex. Beyond the hafting area, the blade is usually excurvate but may be straight. Some examples may have one excurvate and one straight blade edge. The distal end is usually acute; rarely, acuminate. The sides of the hafting area are usually parallel but may taper from the base; rarely, they are slightly incurvate. The basal edge may be either straight or incurvate to a depth of about 2 mm. All bases are thinned. The hafting area edges of most examples with incurvate bases are lightly ground. Straight-based examples may be ground along the hafting area edges.
FLAKING: Faces display random flaking. Secondary flaking of short, broad nature appears, followed by fine retouch, as from pressure flaking, along the edges. The basal thinning is usually short, broad and shallow, but in rare examples it may extend approximately the length of the hafting area. Examples are usually made of local materials.
COMMENTS: The type site is Cambron 53 in Morgan County, Alabama, where examples were found eroding out of a shell midden along with Copena points. The illustrated example is from this site. Examples were first illustrated (Webb and DeJarnette, 1942) as Copena types. At the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) three examples were recovered from Level 1, one example from Level 2 and two examples from Level 6 in Zone A. This is an indication of Woodland and possibly Archaic association. Examples appeared in Woodland strata at Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961). One example was recovered from Level 3 (Woodland) at University of Alabama Site Ms 201, Rock House Shelter, in Marshall County, Alabama. At Flint River Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a) examples were recovered from both Woodland and Archaic strata. These associations indicate that the type originated in Archaic times and continued into the Woodland period.
COTACO CREEK, Cambron (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962): A-24
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large, straight-stemmed point with rounded shoulders and straight blade edges.
MEASUREMENTS: Measurements of nine cotypes (including the illustrated example) from which features were taken ranged as follows: length—maximum, 83 mm.; minimum, 47 mm.; average, 64 mm.: width at shoulders—maximum, 45 mm.; minimum, 33 mm.; average, 40 mm.: stem width—maximum, 19 mm.; minimum, 14 mm.; average, 16 mm.: stem length—maximum, 14 mm.; minimum, 6 mm.; average, 10 mm.: thickness—maximum, 10 mm.; minimum, 6 mm.; average, 7 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is usually flattened but may be rhomboid. Shoulders may be straight or inversely tapered with weak barbs and are usually rounded. The blade is usually straight, but may be excurvate, finely serrated and, sometimes, beveled on the right side (looking toward the distal end) of one or both faces. One example is smoothed, as from use, on the edges adjacent to the distal end. The distal end is usually apiculate or obtuse; rarely acute. The stem is usually straight; rarely, expanded with straight side edges. The basal edge may be straight or excurvate. Most basal edges are thinned. About half the examples are ground on the basal edge. Occasionally, the side edges of the stem are ground.