Name Details:
Named By: Richard H. Homer
Named For:
Date Identified: 1980
Type Site: Sudden Shelter, Utah
Rocker Side Notch
Cluster:
Date:
Cultural Period:
6,400 - 4,400 B.P.
Middle Archaic
Middle Holocene
Glacial Period:
Culture:
Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a medium ovoid point with an elliptical cross section. The blade is
primarily excurvate, but may vary to straight with the widest part of the blade being above the shoulder. Parallel U-shaped notches enter high on the blade forming a shoulder that is horizontal and an
expanded stem. The stem is long with a convex base. This point has a random flaking pattern.
Size Measurements: Total Length - 30 to
72 mm (average 35 to 50 mm), Stem Length - 14 to 28 mm,
Blade Width - 14 to 30 mm, Neck Width - 11 to 16 mm, Stem
Width - 18 to 33 mm, Thickness - 4 to 8 mm
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found in the Great Basin and in to the Colorado Plateau.
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: Valid 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:
Jordan Lammert
References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):
39, 40, 41
Rocker Projectile Point, Rocker Arrowhead
