Early Man Projectile Points in the Southwest — John Shaqi
Early Man Projectile Points in the SouthwestHonea, Kenneth
History
Early Man Projectile Points in the Southwest
Honea, Kenneth
Arrowheads; Indians of North America -- Implements; Indians of North America -- Southwest, New
Golondrina points are of broad lanceolate shape. Upper lateral edges are
usually markedly rounded. Lower lateral edges are characteristically
recurved, resulting in out-flaring basal corners of ears. The base is
quite deeply concave. The broadest part is at mid-section or a little
beyond, towards the tip. Average dimensions are: length 6.0 to 8.0 cm.,
maximum body width 2.3 to 3.2 cm., and base width 2.2 to 2.9 cm.
Workmanship is fine. Initial and secondary shaping and thinning was by
direct percussion. Initial flake scars are irregular. Pressure retouch
of edges is not obvious. Essentially, vertical basal thinning was
accomplished by the removal of either one or a series of irregular
flakes. It should be noted that thinning scars on occasional specimens
may be quite narrow and parallel to the point long-axis. Both the lower
lateral edges and the basal concavity have been smoothed.
[Illustration: _Golondrina_]
At the type site, Golondrina points have been dated to about 8,000 years
ago. Plainview points may be associated with them. Golondrina points
have been found in north central, central, and southwest Texas and
northeast Mexico. It is likely they will be identified in other parts of
the broader Southwest.
GYPSUM CAVE POINTS
Gypsum Cave points were discovered together with the remains of extinct
ground sloth in a cave near Las Vegas, Nevada.
The over-all shape of Gypsum Cave points is elongate triangular. The
straight upper lateral edges comprise virtually the entire length of
specimens. The lower portion is characterized by a short stem formed by
the abrupt sloping back of base edges from marked shoulders; the base is
rounded. They are broadest from shoulder to shoulder. Average length of
Gypsum Cave points is 5.0 to about 6.5 cm., and width about 3.0 cm.
Flaking seems to have been produced by direct percussion. Initial flake
scars are irregular. Secondary thinning of lateral edges is apparently
absent. Stem edges were produced by multi-directional flaking. They are
not smoothed.
[Illustration: _Gypsum Cave_]
The estimated age of Gypsum Cave points at the type site is from about
8,000 to 10,000 years. Points similar to these were found in a cave in
the Manzano Mountains near Albuquerque and south of the Sandias. A
specimen was recovered from the Lindenmeier Site in Colorado above the
Folsom layer.
LAKE MOHAVE POINTS
Lake Mohave points were originally described from the Lake Mohave
district of southeastern California. They were recovered from the
surface and from ancient fossil beaches and terraces.
[Illustration: _Lake Mohave_]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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