Plains Triangular Knife

Pictures Provided By:
Brittany Neemann
Jim Branger
Loyd Doty

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References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):

92

Plains Triangular Knife
Cluster:

Commonly Utilized Material:
A variety of locally available materials commonly heat treated.

Date:
Cultural Period:
Glacial Period:
Culture:

700 - 200 B.P.
Developmental - Late Prehistoric
Medieval Warm

Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:

This is a thin medium to large (3 to 4 inches) knife with an elliptical to flattened cross section. The blade may range from straight to excurvate or recurvate. This point has high narrow parallel notches creating shoulders that are horizontal. The stem is expanded and usually wider than the blade. The base varies from straight to concaved with basal grinding common. This point is manufactured using pressure flaking forming a random flaking pattern and commonly has high quality flaking.

Size Measurements - Date Needed

Distribution:

Distribution Comments:
This point is associated with nomadic bison hunters of the plains and prairie region. This point is found from the plains of Saskatchewan and Alberta into the Plains of Montana, North and South Dakota. May be found into the plains region of Colorado, Nebraska and into Kansas. The highest concentrations of these points are found in the southern region of the plains suggesting a Mississippian cultural influence (Drager and Ireland (1986)

Related / Associated Points:
Avonlea Carmichael, Avonlea Timber Ridge, Plains Triangular, Plains Side Notch (all variations), Prairie Side Notch, Stott Corner Notch

Additional Comments:

Loyd Doty writes:

"PLAINS KNIFE (Side Notch) – was defined by R.S. MacNeish, R. Forbis, and T. Kehoe. They are large (3” to 4”), hafted knives and variations of the Plains Side Notch projectile. Type description is much the same but that they are considerably larger (3” to 4”) than PSN’s, having straight or concave bases that are ground, and they often exhibit recurved blades as a result of repeated sharpening. Distribution includes (2^nd map below) Canada, the northern tier of Plains States south to northeast Colorado and northwest Kansas and they were in use during the Late Prehistoric period. Reference: Kehoe, Thomas 1966:833, The Small Side-notched Point System of the Northern Plains. American Antiquity 31(6): 827-841. "

Pictures:
Notched form

Un-notched Form

Other points in this Cluster:

Point Validity: Valid Type

MacNeish was a pioneering anthropologist who was most notable for his excavations and studies at Tamaulipas Mexico. This type has been references in professional publications and is considered a valid type.