FORM: The cross-section is flattened. Blade edges are usually near parallel for most of the length of the blade, then slope rather abruptly to an acute distal end. Local examples may be sparsely serrated along the blade edges. "The hafting area is notched from the side edges near the base and may be either squared or rounded. The stem base is either straight or incurvate with the incurvate base being more typical." (Bell, 1958). The base of the illustrated example is ground.
FLAKING: Bell (1958) describes the flaking as well done, first by rather large percussion flaking and then by finer flaking along the edges and base. Long, shallow, random flaking was usually employed. Local materials were used.
COMMENTS: The type was named for the Osceola Site in Wisconsin. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 19, Morgan County, Alabama. A somewhat similar type is described by Ritchie (1961) as Otter Creek points associated with the Archaic cultures of Vermont and New York. Bell (1958) states that the type is associated with the Old Copper Culture of Wisconsin where radiocarbon dates suggest an age of 7000 to 5000 years ago. He also lists distribution as Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri. Alabama examples usually appear on early Archaic sites. The type is probably related to the Big Sandy Complex.
PAINT ROCK VALLEY, Mahan (Cambron, 1958a): A-66
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Paint Rock Valley point is a medium sized, broad, triangular point with incurvate base and excurvate blade edges.
MEASUREMENTS: Fourteen plesiotypes, including the illustrated example, from Cambron Site 48, Lincoln County, Tennessee, provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 58 mm.; minimum, 35 mm.; average, 46 mm.: blade width—maximum, 31 mm.; minimum, 25 mm.; average, 28 mm.: width at base—maximum, 30 mm.; minimum, 18 mm.; average, 25 mm.: thickness—maximum, 10 mm.; minimum, 6 mm.; average, 8 mm.: depth of basal concavity—maximum, 3 mm.; minimum, 1 mm.; average, 2 mm.
FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Blade edges are usually excurvate, rarely straight. The distal end is usually acute but may be broad. The hafting area consists of an indeterminate basal portion of the blade that is usually slightly contracted. The base is usually incurvate, rarely straight, and may be thinned or beveled.