Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Name Details:
Identified By: James A. Ford and Clarence H. Webb
Named For: Lake in Louisiana
Date Identified: 1956
Type Site: Poverty Point, West Carol Parish. Louisiana
Identified By: James A. Ford and Clarence H. Webb
Named For: Lake in Louisiana
Date Identified: 1956
Type Site: Poverty Point, West Carol Parish. Louisiana
Point Validity:
Valid type
Ford is an archaeologist who cataloged the cultures of the lower Mississippi River valley. He is most noted for conducting the first large scale excavation at Poverty Point. Webb was a trained Pediatrician who became interested in archeology. In 1940 he became the charter member of the Society of American Archeology. He conducted many collaborative excavations and conducted his own excavations at Poverty Point and Gahagan Mounds. He was a well-respected archaeologist. He named this point in a professional publication and this type has many professional references. This is a valid type.
Pontchartrain Type II
Cluster: Terminal Archaic Barbed Cluster Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a thick narrow medium to large stemmed point with an median ridge or diamond shaped cross section. A median ridge may be present on one or both faces with the other face being flat. The blade is narrow commonly being 3 time the length as the width and is primarily excurvate, but many examples may have a pentagonal appearance being excurvate towards the tip and having parallel sides. The shoulders have short small barbs. The stem is primarily straight, but may vary to slightly expanding. The base may vary from straight to slightly convex. A well executed ripple flake generally extends from the edge to the face, however some examples have pressure flaking used to retouch the edges forming a random flaking pattern.
Size Measurements:
Total Length - 48 to 110 mm (average 60 to 80 mm), Stem Length - 10 to 20 mm, Blade Width - 25 to 40 mm (average 33 to 38 mm), Stem Width - 15 to 22 mm
Total Length - 48 to 110 mm (average 60 to 80 mm), Stem Length - 10 to 20 mm, Blade Width - 25 to 40 mm (average 33 to 38 mm), Stem Width - 15 to 22 mm
Commonly Utilized Material:
Tan cherts are the most common material followed by locally available materials.
Tan cherts are the most common material followed by locally available materials.
Additional Comments:
The Pontchartrain Type II point has a smaller distribution than the Type I point does. The Pontchartrain Type I generally has a longer narrower blade than the Type II point. In addition, the shoulders of the Type I are horizontal to having an upward slope. The base of the Type I is also stem is commonly wider and squarer and commonly has the cortex rind on the basal edge. The Type I may have a noticeable twist to the blade which is not commonly seen with the Type II point.
Perino (1968) lists the type I as the Pontchartrain Typical and the Type II as Pontchartrain Corner Notch.
The Pontchartrain Type II point has a smaller distribution than the Type I point does. The Pontchartrain Type I generally has a longer narrower blade than the Type II point. In addition, the shoulders of the Type I are horizontal to having an upward slope. The base of the Type I is also stem is commonly wider and squarer and commonly has the cortex rind on the basal edge. The Type I may have a noticeable twist to the blade which is not commonly seen with the Type II point.
Perino (1968) lists the type I as the Pontchartrain Typical and the Type II as Pontchartrain Corner Notch.
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found in the lower Mississippi River valley and into the Red River valley.
This point is primarily found in the lower Mississippi River valley and into the Red River valley.
Age / Periods:
Date: 3,500 - 2,000 B.P.
Cultural Period: Late Archaic to Woodland
Glacial Period: Neoglacial to Roman Warm
Culture:
Phase:
Date: 3,500 - 2,000 B.P.
Cultural Period: Late Archaic to Woodland
Glacial Period: Neoglacial to Roman Warm
Culture:
Phase:
Age Details:
Similar Points:
Buck Creek, Flint Creek, Hardin, Hamilton Stemmed, Lange, Little Bear Creek, Morris, Morhiss, Mulberry Creek
Buck Creek, Flint Creek, Hardin, Hamilton Stemmed, Lange, Little Bear Creek, Morris, Morhiss, Mulberry Creek
Other points in this cluster / Related / Associated Points:
