Name Details:
Named By: John Witthoft
Named For: Susquehanna River Valley, Eastern Pennsylvania
Date Identified: 1953
Type Site: Multiple sites along the Potomac River
Susquehanna Broad Spear
Cluster: Susquehanna Cluster
Commonly Utilized Material:
Primarily rhyolite and quartzite followed by quartz,
chert, argillite, and other materials.
Date:
Cultural Period:
3,700 - 2,700 B.P.
Late Archaic to
Early Woodland
Neoglacial to
Medieval Warm
Susquehanna Soapstone
Culture
Glacial Period:
Culture:
Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a
thin medium to large triangular expanding stem point with an elliptical cross section. The blade is primarily excurvate, broad, and commonly asymmetrical. The shoulders may range from horizontal to having an upwards slope. Some examples may have the shoulders removed or “clipped”. The stem is expanding and is narrower than the shoulders. The base is straight to slightly concave. Basal
grinding may be seen on the hafting area on early examples.
Size Measurements: Length - 40 to
200 mm (average 65 mm), Stem Length - 7 to 13 mm, Blade Width - 25 to 50 mm,
Stem Width - 12 to 26 mm, Neck Width - 12 to 22 mm, Thickness - 4 to 10 mm.
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found in the Juniata River Valley and into the Susquehanna River Valley. This is a common point through-out the middle Potomac drainage and the
north Shenandoah Valley and north into southern Ontario. This point is found with decreased frequency into New England, and infrequently into Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Additional Comments:
Some examples have had the shoulders removed which are referred to as Clipped Wing Susquehanna points (W11).
This point is thought to have came from an intrusive culture which originated in the
Susquehanna River Valley and spread into New England and the Ohio River Valley (W11).
It is thought that this point evolved into the Ashtabula point and that the Orient point may represent an intermediate point between this point and the Ashtabula point (Justice, 1987).
The Wayland and Mansion Inn points are variants of this point (Justice, 1987).
Point Validity: Valid Type
Witthoft is a pioneering
anthropologist who retired as a professor for the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. He serves as Chief Curator for the Pennsylvania State
Museum and as State Archaeologist for the State of Pennsylvania. He was an expert in the archaeology of Pennsylvania. This point was named in a professional publication and has many professional references. This is considered a valid type.
.
Age Details:
Pictures Provided By:
Tom Charnley
Matthew Smith
Jonahan Rudge
Lee W.
Ben Sauerwine
Michelle Vanco
Walt Moore
References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):
29, 30, 37, W10, W11
Susquehanna Broadspear Projectile Point, Susquehanna Broadspear Arrowhead
