Other Websites with Detailed Information:
Name Details:
Named By: Michael Kunz
Named For: Type Site
Date Identified:
Type Site:
The Irwin Sluiceway site, northern foothills of the Brook's Range, Alaska
Sluiceway
Cluster:
Date:
Cultural Period:
11,700 - 9,700 B.P.
Transitional Paleo
Late Pleistocene
Artic Tradition
Glacial Period:
Culture:
Outline is Representative of Common Size and Shape:
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a thick large lanceolate point with an elliptical cross section. The blade is excurvate with the tip curving in, becoming widest about two thirds to one half the
blade, and curving back in towards the base. Many examples were re-sharpened, but this type lacks any beveling commonly seem in other types. The base is slightly concave with rounded basal
corners. The flaking pattern may vary from random to parallel. Hafting region grinding and smoothing is heavy on this type.
Size Measurements: Length - 45.8 to
23.2 mm, Width - 9.3 to 17.5 mm, Thickness - 1.6 to 3.6
mm (Goebel and Buvit, 2011)
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found in the Brooks Range of Alaska and into Artic regions of Canada.
Related / Associated Points:
Additional Comments:
Michael Kunz and Tony Baker (2011) notes
"a large Sluiceway site 250km west of Mesa.
Radiocarbon dates for the site cluster at 11,190 RCYBP. The Sluiceway
Complex radiocarbon chronology based on dates from the Sluiceway and Tuluaq
Hill sites mirrors that of the Mesa Complex suggesting a regional
occupational hiatus between ca. 11,190 and 10,000 RCYBP. Because of the
almost identical technology and chronology Mesa and Sluiceway are thought to
be manifestations of the same cultural group". The major difference
between Mesa points and Sluiceway point is the size difference.
Sluiceway points are about a third bigger than Mesa points. Kunz and
Baker describe them as Mesa points on steroids. Even though that is
the major difference, they do not seem to be just a a large Mesa point. Of
the 48 sites surveyed, only 8 sites contained both Mesa and Sluiceway
points. 20 sites contained only Sluiceway points and the remaining 18
sites contained only Mesa points."
Pictures:
Other points in this Cluster:
Point Validity: Valid Type
Kunz is an archaeologist for the BLM in Fairbanks Alaska. He has surveys and
studies into the archaeology of Alaska. This point was named in a professional publication and has many references. This is considered a valid type.
.
Age Details:
Pictures Provided By:
References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):
23. 30, 81, 142
Sluiceway Projectile Point, Sluiceway Arrowhead
