Other Websites with Detailed Information:
Name Details:
Named By: Howard D. Winters
Named For:
Date Identified: 1967
Type Site: Town in Illinois
Karnak
Cluster: Late Archaic Stemmed Cluster
Commonly Utilized Material:
Date:
Cultural Period:
5,700 - 4,000 B.P..
Middle to Late Archaic
Middle Holocene to Neoglacial
Glacial Period:
Culture:
Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Karnak Unstemmed Variation
Karnak
Stemmed
Variation
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a
medium to large ovoid point with an elliptical cross section. The blade is excurvate with the wide portion of the blade being about mid-point of the blade. The stemmed variation may have weak to absent shoulders with a contracting stem. The base may vary from convex to concave. This point has a random flaking pattern and is commonly crudely made.
Size
Measurements: Total Length - 56 to 84 mm, Blade Width - 22 to 34 mm
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is most commonly in the mid-Mississippi River valley and into the Illinois River valley and into Kentucky. This point may be found with less frequency into the Wabash valley of Illinois and
in southeastern Iowa.
Related / Associated Points:
Additional Comments:
Justice (2002), dates these points at 5,700 - 5,000 B.P. which is Middle Archaic and out of the date range for this cluster. University of Minnesota dates these points at 4,000 B.P.
which is Late Archaic. Both place these points into the Late Archaic Stemmed Cluster.
Saratoga type points are commonly mistaken for Karnak points. Stemmed
Karnak points are commonly more crudely made than Saratoga points and have a
contracting stem while Saratoga points have a broad straight to expanding
stem.
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.
.
Age Details:
This is part of the Helton Phase and French Lick Phase
References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):
30, 37, W2
Karnak Projectile Point, Karnak Arrowhead
Karnak Blade
Karnak Stemmed Projectile Point, Karnak Stemmed Arrowhead
