FLAKING: Broad, shallow, random flaking was used to shape the blade. Fine secondary flaking was used to thin and shape the side and basal edges. Local materials were used.
COMMENTS: According to Ritchie (1961) this type was described by Scully as the Mississippi Triangular point and was later changed by him to the Madison point (Scully, 1951). Scully gives the association as "Middle Mississippi" and the distribution as "Middle and Upper Mississippi sites in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri".
Kneberg (1956) refers to a similar point as "Late Mississippi Triangular." She suggests a date of 1300-1800 A. D. The length range, as given by Scully, and measurements of 100 points from a single prehistoric Iroquois site in western New York (Ritchie, 1961) compare favorably with Alabama measurements. The type is associated with the middle Mississippi culture in Alabama and has been referred to locally as Mississippi Triangular. At Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962), of eleven levels in Zone A, Levels 1 and 2 produced 167 of the 234 examples recovered. At the University of Alabama Site Ms 201 in Marshall County, Alabama, 44 of the 52 examples from 13 levels came from Levels 1 and 2. Of the 86 examples recovered from Stratum I (Woodland and Mississippian) at the Flint Creek Rock Shelter (Cambron and Waters, 1961) most examples were in the uppermost levels. Of 11 examples from Flint River Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a) 9 were in Zone A (uppermost zone). The middle Mississippi culture, with which the points are associated in Alabama, is considered prehistoric Creek. Jenkins (1975) has confirmed a pre-Mississippian (Miller III) provenience for this type on the Central Tombigbee River. The Madison point type was also found on transitional Late Woodland-Early Mississippian sites (West Jefferson Phase) within the Warrior drainage (Jenkins and Nielsen, 1974).
MAPLES, Cambron (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962): A-57
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a large, thin, broad stemmed point with an excurvate base.
MEASUREMENTS: Seventeen cotypes from the Tennessee River Valley (with the exception of length, where only 6 examples were used since the distal ends of the other 11 examples are missing) provided the following measurements and features: length—maximum, 119 mm.; minimum, 61 mm.; average, 93 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 72 mm.; minimum, 37 mm.; average, 52 mm.: stem width—maximum, 50 mm.; minimum, 24 mm.; average, 36 mm.: stem length—maximum, 16 mm.; minimum, 8 mm.; average, 11 mm.: thickness—maximum, 18 mm.; minimum, 10 mm.; average, 14 mm. The illustrated example provided the following measurements: length, 104 mm.; shoulder width, 60 mm.; stem width, 35 mm.; stem length, 12 mm.; thickness, 14 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are tapered. Blade edges are usually excurvate but may be straight. The distal end is usually acute. The stem is short and usually contracted-rounded with excurvate side edges. The basal edge is excurvate or straight, usually thinned, and may be ground.
FLAKING: Broad, shallow to deep, flaking was used to shape the blade and stem. A minimum of secondary flaking was used on some examples, sometimes on only one edge of a face. Other examples show a considerable amount of retouching along the blade edges. A minimum of secondary flaking was used on the basal edge and sides of the stem. Local materials were utilized, especially Ft. Payne chert.