Name Details:
Named By: Dena Dincauze
Named For: River by Type Site
Date Identified: 1976
Type Site: Neville Site, Merrimack River, Manchester, New Hampshire
Merrimack
Cluster:
Commonly Utilized Material:
quartz and felsite
Date:
Cultural Period:
6,000 - 5,000 B.P.
Middle Archaic
Middle Holocene
Glacial Period:
Culture:
Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a small to medium
stemmed point with an elliptical cross section. The blade may vary from straight to excurvate and is narrow. The shoulders
have an upward taper. The stem is may vary from slightly expanding to slightly constricting. The stem is commonly
straight. The base mart vary from straight to slightly convex to slightly concave. Basal grinding is commonly seen. This point has a random flaking pattern.
Size Measurements: Total Length - 25 to
60 mm (average 40 mm), Stem Length - 10 to 15 mm, Blade Width - 10 to 21 mm,
Stem Width - 9 to 14 mm, Thickness - 5
to 7 mm
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found in Massachusetts and into southern New England. This point is found into southern New York and eastern Pennsylvania.
Similar Points:
Dewart, Duncan Island, Dustin, Durst, Lamoka, Piney Island, Randolph, Sand hill, Swan Lake, Taconic, Wading River Related / Associated Points:
Neville
Additional Comments:
Dean Snow (1980) suggest that this point has limited distribution and that it is truly only found in the Merrimack River drainage. Gregory Perino (1969) suggest that re-sharpened
Neville points may be difficult in distinguishing the two points which may account for the distribution of this point.
Pictures:
Other points in this Cluster:
Point Validity: Valid Type
Dincauze is a renowned anthropologist who has specialized in prehistoric archeology of eastern and central New England and was a professor at the UMass Amherst. This point was named in her book on the Atlantic Phase culture and has many professional references. This is considered a valid type.
.
Age Details:
Neville Complex
Pictures Provided By:
References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):
23, 30, W11
Merrimack Projectile Point, Merrimack Arrowhead
