Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I, Point Types

by James W. Cambron; David C. Hulse

MEASUREMENTS: One hundred fifty-three plesiotypes which may include some Nuckolls Dalton points, since the types had not been separated when the survey was made (Soday and Cambron, n. d.), from 62 sites in the Tennessee River Valley ranged from maximum length of 69 mm. to a minimum length of 28 mm. The average length was 47 mm.; the average width, 21 mm.; average thickness, 6 mm. The illustrated example measured in length, 48 mm.; in width of blade at junction of hafting area, 18 mm.; in width at terminal end of hafting area, 19 mm.; in width at base, 21 mm.; in length of hafting area, 16 mm.; in width of basal constriction, 18 mm.; in thickness 6 mm.

FORM: The cross-section is usually biconvex but may be rhomboid. The blade is usually excurvate but may be straight. Blade edges may be beveled on one edge and/or serrated. The distal end is acute. The hafting area, usually well defined by a sharp change in the contour of the edge of the point at the junction of the blade, is auriculated with expanded-rounded, rarely expanded-pointed auricles. Side and basal edges of the hafting area are usually incurvate and ground. The basal edge is thinned, sometimes fluted.

FLAKING: The blade and hafting area are shaped by broad, shallow, random flaking. Retouch along the blade edges often resulted in serrations and/or beveling. Retouch along the hafting area edges was more limited, and usually finer, which helped to smooth the hafting area edges. Most examples are made of local materials.

COMMENTS: The type was named for the Greenbrier area of Kentucky Lake. The illustrated example is from the Quad Site, Cambron 84, Limestone County, Alabama. Forty-one examples were recovered from the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) excluding those found in the 100-foot trench. Most of the examples came from the trenches, and were present in Levels 7 through 15. Zone C produced two examples. One example was found in each of the following levels of Zone D: 1, 2, 5, 6, 12. At University of Alabama Site Ms 201, in Marshall County, Alabama, one example was recovered from Level 10 and two from Level 11. A radiocarbon date of 9640 ±450 years B. P. from Zone D material at the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter suggests a Transitional Paleo-Indian association, as do associations of surface finds in Alabama with other early materials. An example was found in association with Quad, Wheeler, Big Sandy I and Stanfield Triangular points, a fluted midsection and uniface tools at the Quad Site (Cambron and Hulse, 1960a). A variant of the type called Nuckolls Dalton (by Kneberg, for the Nuckolls Site in Kentucky Lake, Tennessee) differs from Greenbrier Dalton in that it has either parallel-rounded or, rarely, parallel-pointed auricles. Forty-six examples of this variant were recovered from the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter. No significant difference in distribution by levels was noted between any of the Dalton types at this site. Examples with straight hafting area sides are similar to Meserve points (Suhm, Krieger and Jelks, 1954).

DAMRON, Cambron (This Paper): A-83

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Damron point is a medium-sized point with shallow side notches.

MEASUREMENTS: Eleven cotypes, including the illustrated example, provided traits and the following measurements: length—maximum, 72 mm.; minimum, 37 mm.; average, 49 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 32 mm.; minimum, 24 mm.; average, 27 mm.: stem width—maximum, 29 mm.; minimum, 19 mm.; average, 24 mm.: stem length—maximum, 11 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 9 mm.: thickness—maximum, 10 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 8 mm.: notch width—maximum, 8 mm.; minimum, 7 mm.; average, 7 mm.: notch depth—maximum, 5 mm.; minimum, 2 mm.; average, 3 mm.

FORM: The cross-section is usually biconvex but may be flattened or, rarely, plano-convex. Shoulders are tapered. The blade may be excurvate or straight. Some examples have one excurvate and one straight blade edge. Blade edges may be finely serrated. The steepness of some blade edges gives a near-beveled appearance. The distal end is acute. The hafting area is notched with shallow, narrow, side notches situated near the basal edge. Sides of the expanded stem are incurvate. The basal edge is usually excurvate but may be straight. Rarely, it is ground; usually it is beveled on one or both faces.