Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Classic Afton (Described by Bell and Hall 1953)
Stemmed Afton
(as described by Bell 1958)
Classic Afton (Described by Bell and Hall 1953)Stemmed Afton(as described by Bell 1958)
Name Details:
Identified By: R. H. Harper (named) / Robert E. Bell and Charlene Hall (described)
Named For: Type Site
Date Identified: 1901 / 1953
Type Site: The Afton Springs Site, Ottawa County, Oklahoma
Identified By: R. H. Harper (named) / Robert E. Bell and Charlene Hall (described)
Named For: Type Site
Date Identified: 1901 / 1953
Type Site: The Afton Springs Site, Ottawa County, Oklahoma
Point Validity: Valid type
Harper was a medical doctor in Afton Oklahoma who discovered the Afton Springs Site, a site containing Mastodon teeth. These points were named after the site. Bell was a professor of Anthropology and Museum Curator in Oklahoma and did extensive work at the Spiro Mounds. He named this point in a professional publication and this point has many professional references. This is a valid type.
Harper was a medical doctor in Afton Oklahoma who discovered the Afton Springs Site, a site containing Mastodon teeth. These points were named after the site. Bell was a professor of Anthropology and Museum Curator in Oklahoma and did extensive work at the Spiro Mounds. He named this point in a professional publication and this point has many professional references. This is a valid type.
Afton
AKA: Pentagonal Knife (Ohio) Cluster:
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a medium to large (2 to 4.1 inches) pentagonal with a flattened cross section. The blade has a angular pentagonal shape. The point is generally considered a corner notched point, but some variations are stemmed. The shoulders are most commonly barbed, but may be horizontal on the stemmed variation. The stem ranges from expanding to stemmed with a base that is straight to convex. This point commonly has good workmanship and is manifested using broad percussion flaking with pressure flaking used to finish the blade forming a random flaking pattern.
Size Measurements:
Total Length - 51 to 102 mm, Stem Length - 10 to 18 mm, Blade Width - 30 to 40 mm, Neck Width - 15 to 25 mm, Thickness - 7 to 11 mm
Total Length - 51 to 102 mm, Stem Length - 10 to 18 mm, Blade Width - 30 to 40 mm, Neck Width - 15 to 25 mm, Thickness - 7 to 11 mm
Commonly Utilized Material:
Additional Comments:
The Pentagonal Knife found on the Columbia Plateau is called the Plateau Pentagonal Knife.
This point has been referred as Pentagonal Knife or just "Pentagonals" in Ohio and surrounding region.
Some argue that the Pentagonal Knife from the Ohio River valley and the and the Afton represent two separate types. Robert Bell (1958) described both types and felt that they did represent the same type, having the same characteristics and having the same age (all pre-pottery period).
Bell (1958) lists a variant to this point which has a straight stem and shoulders that are horizontal to having an upward slope.
This point is an older point, and larger than the similar Jacks Reef Pentagonal point.
The Pentagonal Knife found on the Columbia Plateau is called the Plateau Pentagonal Knife.
This point has been referred as Pentagonal Knife or just "Pentagonals" in Ohio and surrounding region.
Some argue that the Pentagonal Knife from the Ohio River valley and the and the Afton represent two separate types. Robert Bell (1958) described both types and felt that they did represent the same type, having the same characteristics and having the same age (all pre-pottery period).
Bell (1958) lists a variant to this point which has a straight stem and shoulders that are horizontal to having an upward slope.
This point is an older point, and larger than the similar Jacks Reef Pentagonal point.
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found in the mid to lower Mississippi Rive Valley and into the Missouri River Valley. This point is found through-out the Ohio River Valley and into the Illinois River Valley (called Pentagonal Knife). This point is found through out the Tennessee River Valley. This point is found with decreased frequency into the Red River Valley and into eastern Texas.
This point is primarily found in the mid to lower Mississippi Rive Valley and into the Missouri River Valley. This point is found through-out the Ohio River Valley and into the Illinois River Valley (called Pentagonal Knife). This point is found through out the Tennessee River Valley. This point is found with decreased frequency into the Red River Valley and into eastern Texas.
Age / Periods:
Date: 5,000 - 3,000 B.P.
Cultural Period: Late Archaic
Glacial Period: Middle Holocene
Culture:
Date: 5,000 - 3,000 B.P.
Cultural Period: Late Archaic
Glacial Period: Middle Holocene
Culture:
Age Details:
Other points in this cluster / Related / Associated Points:
