Name Details:
Named By: Robert Stephenson, L. Ferguson and G. Ferguson
Named For:
Date Identified: 1963
Type Site: Accokeek Creek Site, Maryland
Piscataway
Cluster:
Commonly Utilized Material:
Most commonly quartz and quartzite followed by rhyolite,
chert and argillite.
Date:
Cultural Period:
3,000 - 1,700 B.P.
Late Archaic to Early Woodland
Neoglacial to Roman Warm
Glacial Period:
Culture:
Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a
narrow small to medium triangular point with a contracting stem. This point is commonly thick with an elliptical cross section. The blade is primarily excurvate, but may vary to straight. The shoulders are commonly weak and have an upward slope. The stem is short and contracting to a pointed to rounded base. This point has a random flaking pattern.
Size Measurements: Total Length
- 29 to 60 mm (average 37 mm), Stem Length - 7 to 13 mm
(average 7 to 10 mm), Blade Width - 10 to 21 mm (average 14
mm) Stem Width - 11 to 15 mm, Thickness - 5 to 10 mm
(average 7 mm).
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found in the mid to lower Delaware River valley and into the Susquehanna River basin.
Additional Comments:
Piscataway points generally have a smaller stem and less pronounced shoulders than the similar Rossville point. They also tend to be narrower than the Rossville point (W10).
Other points in this Cluster:
Point Validity: Valid Type
Stephenson is a distinguished anthropologist who was a professor at the University of South Carolina and was an expert in southern archaeology. This type was named
in a professional publication and has many professional references. This is considered a valid type.
.
Age Details:
The age of this point has been controversial due to the overlapping
characteristics with similar types of varying age. These points have
been found in association with Otter Creek points placing them in a middle
to late Archaic. They have also been found in association with pottery
placing them in the Woodland period (W10).
References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):
23, 30, W10
Piscataway Projectile Point, Piscataway Arrowhead
