Handbook of Alabama Archaeology: Part I, Point Types

by James W. Cambron; David C. Hulse

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium to large, expanded shoulder point with recurvate blade edges and tapered stem.

MEASUREMENTS: Twelve cotypes from the Tennessee River Valley of North Alabama provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 117 mm.; minimum, 71 mm.; average, 85 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 48 mm.; minimum, 37 mm.; average, 44 mm.: stem width—maximum, 24 mm.; minimum, 15 mm.; average, 19 mm.: stem length—maximum, 12 mm.; minimum, 9 mm.; average, 10 mm. The illustrated example provided the following measurements: length, 76 mm.; shoulder width, 41 mm.; stem width, 19 mm.; stem length, 13 mm.; thickness, 9 mm.

FORM: The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are usually tapered, but may be horizontal, and are always expanded. About one-half of the measured examples had asymmetrical shoulders. Blade edges are recurvate and may be slightly serrated. The distal end is acute. Stems are thick and tapered, rarely straight. Side edges of the stem are usually incurvate and may be ground. The basal edge may be excurvate or straight and rarely ground.

FLAKING: Broad, shallow flaking was used to shape the blade and stem. Short, deep, regular flaking was used to finish the blade edges, often resulting in fine serrations. A minimum of retouch was used along the stem edges. Local materials were utilized.

COMMENTS: The type was named from points found on sites in Pickwick Basin of the Tennessee River Valley. The illustrated example is from Cambron Site 48 in Lincoln County, Tennessee. It is similar to Ledbetter Stemmed points (Kneberg, 1956), but both blade edges are recurvate. At the Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter (DeJarnette, Kurjack and Cambron, 1962) five examples were recovered from Zone A, one from Level 2, two from Level 3 and one each from Levels 4 and 7. At Little Bear Creek Shell Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948b) examples were recovered from levels as follows: Levels 1 and 2, 1 each; Level 3, 13; Level 4, 3; Level 5, 4; Levels 6 and 7, 1 each. Levels 1 and 2 are Woodland, the other levels contained Archaic materials. At Flint River Shell Mound (Webb and DeJarnette, 1948a) one each was recovered from Zones A and B (Woodland), four examples from Zone C, one from Zone C-D and three from Zone D. Zones C, C-D and D are Archaic. The above evidence indicates a beginning in middle Archaic and a climax in late Archaic for the type.

PINE TREE, Cambron (Cambron, 1956): A-70

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: This is a medium sized, side notched, serrated point with expanded shoulders.

MEASUREMENTS: Seven cotypes from Limestone County, Alabama, provided the following measurements and traits: length—maximum, 66 mm.; minimum, 50 mm.; average, 59 mm.: shoulder width—maximum, 29 mm.; minimum, 25 mm.; average, 27 mm.: stem width—maximum, 29 mm.; minimum, 26 mm.; average, 28 mm.: stem length—maximum, 15 mm.; minimum, 11 mm.; average, 12 mm.: thickness—maximum, 9 mm.; minimum, 5 mm.; average, 7 mm.