After many hours, I believe I have identified the projectile point (photo in first post in
thread). This is much harder than coins, or it was for me, and I
had no idea how many different legitimate
types of points and other
tools there are and this is just
North America. The website above differentiates between "Valid
Type" and "Collector
Type," where valid
types have been documented in peer reviewed journals, etc. Anyway, there were a number of
types that are close, but I have settled on the below. One thing about this one is the intricate
work and high
quality material that I believe is Dakota Quartzite, which occurs regularly in the
area the point was found. Next up to identify are the two notched points.
Midland Point (a Valid
type first identified in 1955)
Plano
Lanceolate Cluster
Date: 10,900 - 10,200 BP (approx 8,900 - 8,200 BC)
Cultural Period: Transitional Paleo
Glacial Period: Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a thin small to medium
lanceolate point with a flattened
cross section. The blade is excurvate with the widest
part of the blade being on the top third. The blade commonly has
fine and regular steep re-touching. The base may vary from concave to straight. Grinding is present on the
lateral hafting region commonly to the widest
part of the blade, but only light or no grinding is present in the basal concavity. Basal thinning is created by the removal of three to four short flakes on one
face. The flaking pattern may range from horizontal to parallel
oblique or random.
Size Measurements: Length - 30 to 80 mm, Width - 16 to 28 mm, Thickness - 3 to 5 mm
Distribution Comments:
This point is found in the Plains region from southern
Canada into northern
Mexico. This point is similar to the Folsom point and may have the same distribution. [My note: Folsom points are fluted and mine is not]
This is actually fun and I may start looking for points where I live.
Cheers,
Virgil