Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Name Details:
Identified By: Joffre L. Coe
Named For: The Kirk family who owned the property of the type site.
Date Identified: 1964
Type Site: Hardaway Site, Stanly County, North Carolina
Identified By: Joffre L. Coe
Named For: The Kirk family who owned the property of the type site.
Date Identified: 1964
Type Site: Hardaway Site, Stanly County, North Carolina
Point Validity:
Valid type
Coe was a highly respected and pioneering anthropologist in North Carolina archaeology and a preeminent authority on eastern North American anthropology. This type was named in a professional publication and has many professional references. This is considered a valid type.
Coe was a highly respected and pioneering anthropologist in North Carolina archaeology and a preeminent authority on eastern North American anthropology. This type was named in a professional publication and has many professional references. This is considered a valid type.
Kirk Corner Notched
Cluster: Kirk Corner Notch Cluster
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a medium to large (1.5 to 4 inches) triangular corner notched point with a flattened to elliptical cross section. The blade is primarily excurvate, but may vary to straight or recurvate. The blade is sometimes serrated, which may vary from fine to deep serrations, and may be beveled. The shoulders are strongly barbed, however the barbed may become slightly weaker in examples with heavily re-worked blades. The stem is expanding. The base may vary from straight to concave, but infrequently are convex. Basal grinding is rarely seen on this type of point. This point has a random flaking pattern.
Size Measurements:
Total Length - 32 to 120 mm (55 to 70 mm average**), Stem Length - 9 to 15 mm (12 mm average), Blade Width - 20 to 45 mm (29 to 34 mm average), Stem Width at Base - 23 to 29 mm (25 mm average), Thickness - 5 to 10 mm
Total Length - 32 to 120 mm (55 to 70 mm average**), Stem Length - 9 to 15 mm (12 mm average), Blade Width - 20 to 45 mm (29 to 34 mm average), Stem Width at Base - 23 to 29 mm (25 mm average), Thickness - 5 to 10 mm
Commonly Utilized Material:
Additional Comments:
This type has been dated as late as 7,100 B.P. in the north west (Michaels and Smith, 1967 / Kraft, 1975), but many people think these dates are too late and discount them. (Justice 2002).
Coe (1959) states, "Following the Hardaway occupation, the style of projectile points changed to a small corner-notched serrated variety with extensive grinding along the base. Along with this the use of the small hafted snub-nosed scraper increased considerably."
Coe (1959), feels that this point evolved from the Palmer point. The Palmer point is noted for heavy basal grinding, while this point is not commonly ground.
John Whatley argues that small Bolen Corner Notch would be better classified as this type and large Bolen Corner Notch would be better classified as Kirk Corner Notch (Schroder, 2013).
**There appears to be a size difference between the Tennessee River Valley and the Seaboard region. Coe noted the average size was 70 mm from North Carolina while Cambron noted that the average size was 55 mm for Alabama.
This type has been dated as late as 7,100 B.P. in the north west (Michaels and Smith, 1967 / Kraft, 1975), but many people think these dates are too late and discount them. (Justice 2002).
Coe (1959) states, "Following the Hardaway occupation, the style of projectile points changed to a small corner-notched serrated variety with extensive grinding along the base. Along with this the use of the small hafted snub-nosed scraper increased considerably."
Coe (1959), feels that this point evolved from the Palmer point. The Palmer point is noted for heavy basal grinding, while this point is not commonly ground.
John Whatley argues that small Bolen Corner Notch would be better classified as this type and large Bolen Corner Notch would be better classified as Kirk Corner Notch (Schroder, 2013).
**There appears to be a size difference between the Tennessee River Valley and the Seaboard region. Coe noted the average size was 70 mm from North Carolina while Cambron noted that the average size was 55 mm for Alabama.
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily associated with the Eastern Seaboard region of the United States, into the the Gulf Coastal region and the Tennessee River and Ohio River basins. This point is found into the Mississippi River Basin and the Northeastern United States with decreased frequency.
This point is primarily associated with the Eastern Seaboard region of the United States, into the the Gulf Coastal region and the Tennessee River and Ohio River basins. This point is found into the Mississippi River Basin and the Northeastern United States with decreased frequency.
Age / Periods:
Date: 9,500 - 8,500 B.P.
Cultural Period: Early Archaic
Glacial Period: Early Holocene
Culture:
Date: 9,500 - 8,500 B.P.
Cultural Period: Early Archaic
Glacial Period: Early Holocene
Culture:
Age Details:
At the St. Albans site Kirk Corner Notch was found in zones 16 and 18 (large variety) and in zone 20 (small variety). These zones are 8 to 10 feet below the surface. The large type is dated between 6900 B.C. ± 320 years and 6850 B.C.± 320 years. The small type is dated at 6980 B.C. ± 160 years (Broyles 1971:63-65)
At the St. Albans site Kirk Corner Notch was found in zones 16 and 18 (large variety) and in zone 20 (small variety). These zones are 8 to 10 feet below the surface. The large type is dated between 6900 B.C. ± 320 years and 6850 B.C.± 320 years. The small type is dated at 6980 B.C. ± 160 years (Broyles 1971:63-65)
Similar Points:
Brewerton Corner Notch, Crawford Creek, Kings, Lost Lake, Nettling, Neuberger, Thebes, Wells Bridge
Brewerton Corner Notch, Crawford Creek, Kings, Lost Lake, Nettling, Neuberger, Thebes, Wells Bridge
Other points in this cluster / Related / Associated Points:
Amos, Angelico, Barbee, Charleston Corner Notch
Amos, Angelico, Barbee, Charleston Corner Notch
