Name Details:
Named By: Richard Holmer
Named For: Type Site
Date Identified: 1978
Type Site: Sudden Shelter, Utah
Rocker
(Sudden Variant)
Cluster: Northern Side Notch Cluster
Date:
Cultural Period:
6,500 - 4,200 B.P.
Middle Archaic
Middle Holocene to Neoglacial
Glacial Period:
Culture:
Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a medium triangular point with a flattened to elliptical cross section. The blade is primarily excurvate and generally
wide. Parallel notches are higher on the blade forming horizontal shoulders and an expanded stem. The basal area is
wide, and may be wider than the blade with a large basal area. The base is convex with a squared basal edges. This point has a random flaking pattern.
Size Measurements: Data Needed
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found on the Colorado Plateau and into the eastern Great Basin. The distribution extends into southeastern Nevada just north of the Colorado River Valley.
Additional Comments:
Homer (1980) first described the Rocker Side Notch as a wide point created from an ovate preform with notches placed on, or close to the corner of the preform creating a short hafting
region. This description lead to many people lumping all convex base point into the Sudden type due to the lack of typological difference (Justice, 2002). This has lead to many different point type being
clumped into a type that is not supported by the key characteristics of that type. Sudden Side Notches are distinguished by U-shaped notches being place high on the preform forming a large square basal area.
Novotny (2007) re-defined the Rocker type by two defining features, first is U-shaped notches high on ovate preform, and second is long well rounded stems. This left two different style points previously
labeled as Rocker falling outside this definition. First is a Sudden variant which has high U-shaped notches with l large square basal area and a convex base. The second is the examples recovered from
Cowboy Cave by Jennings in 1980. Two Rocker Side Notch points were found, but they were fund in levels with Elko type points which are considered much newer than typical Rocker points. Also Rocker points
have a much smaller stem than described by Novotny. These two examples tend to represent an Elko variant more than a true Rocker type point. Justice (2002), points out that many Elko variants have been
typed as Rocker points which are much older than Elko type points. The Rocker type has been divided into three types. First is the Rocker Side Notch as described by Novotny. Second is a Rocker
Sudden variant, and third is a Rocker Elko variant.
Pictures:
Other points in this Cluster:
Point Validity: Variant Type
Holmer was a well-respected pioneering Anthropologist who as a driving force at the Department of Anthropology at the University of Utah. This
type was named in a professional publication and has many professional references. This is a variant of the Sudden Side Notch. This
is considered a variant type.
.
Age Details:
Pictures Provided By:
Lee
References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):
39, 40, 41
Rocker Projectile Point, Rocker Arrowhead
