Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Name Details:
Identified By: Noel Justice
Named For: Type Site
Date Identified: 2002
Type Site: Alamo Site (CA Cco 331), Contra Costa County, California
Identified By: Noel Justice
Named For: Type Site
Date Identified: 2002
Type Site: Alamo Site (CA Cco 331), Contra Costa County, California
Point Validity:
Valid type
Justice is a distinguished archaeologist and Assistant Director and Curator of Collections at Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology at Indiana University. This point was named in his book on points of the Southwest. There are currently few professional references to this type, but that may be due to the limited distribution and number of examples. This is considered a valid type.
Justice is a distinguished archaeologist and Assistant Director and Curator of Collections at Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology at Indiana University. This point was named in his book on points of the Southwest. There are currently few professional references to this type, but that may be due to the limited distribution and number of examples. This is considered a valid type.
Alamo Expanding Stem
Cluster: Alamo Cluster Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a thin large to extra-large triangular expanding stem point with a flattened cross section. The blade is excurvate with many examples having long blades that have almost parallel edges towards the shoulders. The shoulders may vary from slightly barbed to horizontal. The stem may range from slightly expanding to straight with a convex base. These points are commonly well made and have a random flaking pattern.
Size Measurements:
Total Length - 94 to 210 mm, Stem Length - 14 to 21 mm, Blade Width - 44 to 51 mm, Neck Width - 17 to 21 mm, Stem Width - 22 to 33 mm, Thickness - 8 to 11 mm
Total Length - 94 to 210 mm, Stem Length - 14 to 21 mm, Blade Width - 44 to 51 mm, Neck Width - 17 to 21 mm, Stem Width - 22 to 33 mm, Thickness - 8 to 11 mm
Commonly Utilized Material:
Heat treated cherts and obsidian
Heat treated cherts and obsidian
Additional Comments:
This point is the largest spear type point found in California. This type is thought to represent a ceremonial type artifact. Many examples have been found in funerary context. No utilitarian variations of this type are yet known to exist. No other types exhibit the same basic concept, but the concept does tent to represent technology used in the manufacturing of Middle Woodland types such as the Ross, Snyders, and Norton points found in the Mid-west (Justice, 2002).
This point is the largest spear type point found in California. This type is thought to represent a ceremonial type artifact. Many examples have been found in funerary context. No utilitarian variations of this type are yet known to exist. No other types exhibit the same basic concept, but the concept does tent to represent technology used in the manufacturing of Middle Woodland types such as the Ross, Snyders, and Norton points found in the Mid-west (Justice, 2002).
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found in the San Francisco Bay area and into the Sacramento Delta region.
This point is primarily found in the San Francisco Bay area and into the Sacramento Delta region.
Age / Periods:
Date: 2,500 - 1,500 B.P.
Cultural Period: Transitional Archaic
Glacial Period: Roman Warm
Culture:
Date: 2,500 - 1,500 B.P.
Cultural Period: Transitional Archaic
Glacial Period: Roman Warm
Culture:
Age Details:
Other points in this cluster / Related / Associated Points:
