Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Name Details:
Identified By: Howard D. Winters
Named For: Cairo Lowlands
Date Identified: 1959
Type Site: Brisco Mound site (11WI23), near Cairo, Illinois
Point Validity:
Valid type
Winters is a distinguished anthropologist who did extensive research in Illinois. He identified this point during the survey of the Wabash Valley in Illinois. This point was named in a professional publication and has many professional references. This is a valid type.
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a medium (2 to 3.5 inch) side notch point with an elliptical cross section with a median ridge. The blade is narrow and ranges from excurvate to straight. Shallow wide notches enter the side of the preform near the base forming a shoulder that is at a slight upward angle and a a short expanding stem. The base is straight. This point is formed using percussion flaking from each side forming a median ridge on both faces and finished with fine pressure flaking along both edges.
Size Measurements:
Commonly Utilized Material:
Additional Comments:
Loyd Doty notes:
CAIRO (Side Notch) – was described by archaeologist Howard D. Winters for examples recovered from the Briscoe Mound site (11WI25), near Cairo, Illinois. They are medium sized (2” to 3.50”) narrow, thin projectiles and knives with sharp to round tips and parallel blade edges. They normally have round shoulders, wide, shallow side indentations placed close to bases that are short, expanded and have straight basal edges. Flaking is primarily percussion from each side to the middle forming median ridges and finished with light pressure treatment on blade edges. Cross sections are biconvex. Distribution includes the upper Mississippi River Valley and they were in use during the Late Archaic period. Reference: Winters, Howard D. 1967, An Archaeological survey of the Wabash Valley. Illinois State Museum.
See: Winters, Howard D (1959), Projectile Points of the Cache River Valley, Illinois State Museum, Springfield Il.
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found along the Cairo Lowlands of Illinois.
Age / Periods:
Date: 4,000 - 3,000 B.P.
Cultural Period: Late Archaic
Glacial Period: Neoglacial
Culture:
Age Details:
Other points in this cluster / Related / Associated Points: