Other Websites with Detailed Information:
Name Details:
Named By: Dee Ann Suhm, Alex D. Krieger and Edward B. Jelks
Named For:
Date Identified: 1954
Type Site:
Refugio
AKA: Wheeler Leaf
Cluster:
Commonly Utilized Material:
Date:
Cultural Period:
4,000 -2,000 B.P.
Middle to Late Archaic
Middle Holocene to Roman Warm
Glacial Period:
Culture:
Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a
thick medium to large (typically 2.25 to 4 inches) ovoid to triangular point with
a thick elliptical to median ridge cross section. The blade
is long and slender and excurvate with the tip curving in and curving back in towards the base. The widest part of the blade is one half to the
bottom one third of the blade. The base is convex with rounded
basal corners forming a semicircle and commonly has basal thinning. This point has a random flaking pattern.
Size Measurements: Total Length - 60 to 100 mm, Width - 20
to 30 mm
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found from the lower Pecos region
into central Texas, northern Coahuila, northern Nuevo Leon, northern
Tamaulipas, and into the coastal regions. Heaviest concentrations
on the coastal regions of Texas and Mexico. Bell (1958) places
this type into Oklahoma.
Additional Comments:
This point is similar to the Pandora point which has a straight base and a
Kinney point which has a concave base.
A similar points, the Pandora and Refugio, was described by
Suhm and Krieger, (1954). The Wheeler Leaf a diagnostic point of
the Carrollton Focus as is the Pandora and Refugio points. The two may represent
the same type. However, as noted by Suhm and Krieger (1954) the
Pandora point as well as Refugio points seems to be a combination of smaller narrower points (like the
Wheeler Leaf) which they refer to as projectile points, and larger wider
points they feel are knifes. It could be that the smaller points are
Wheeler Leaf points as described by Crook and Harris while the larger knives
are Pandora or Refugio as described by Suhm and Krieger.
This is similar to the Covington Knife and Abasolo found in central Texas.
The Covington Knife tends to be broader with more angular basal corners
while the Abasolo tends to be narrower with rounded basal corners. The
Refugio is similar, but is generally larger than the Abasolo.
Other points in this Cluster:
Point Validity: Valid Type
Suhm was an eminent Texas
anthropologist who, among many distinguished positions, served as Director of Texas Archeological Research Laboratory. Krieger was a renowned anthropologist who spent most
of his career in Texas cataloging projectile points and pottery in Texas before moving on to the University of Washington. Jelks was a distinguished anthropologist and
helped organize the newly formed Department of Anthropology at Illinois State University where he was a Professor. His work in Texas furthered the understanding of Texas
archeology and was a founding force for the Society of Historical Archeology. This type was named in a professional publication and subsequent book and has many
professional references. This is a valid type.
.
Age Details:
This is part of the Edwards Plateau Aspect and the Carrollton Focus.
References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):
8, 23, 30, 115, 177
Refugio Projectile Point, Refugio Arrowhead
