Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Name Details:
Identified By: Samuel O. McGahey (formalized)
Named For: Tangipahoa River, Mississippi
Date Identified: 2000
Type Site: Hoover site (16TA4), Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Identified By: Samuel O. McGahey (formalized)
Named For: Tangipahoa River, Mississippi
Date Identified: 2000
Type Site: Hoover site (16TA4), Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Point Validity:
Valid type
McGahey is a professional archaeologist who served as the Chief Archaeologist for Mississippi Department of Archives and History as well as the Editor in of Mississippi Archeology until 1982. This point was named in a professional publication, but limited current professional discussion of this type have revolved around the need for supporting data. This is considered a provisional type.
McGahey is a professional archaeologist who served as the Chief Archaeologist for Mississippi Department of Archives and History as well as the Editor in of Mississippi Archeology until 1982. This point was named in a professional publication, but limited current professional discussion of this type have revolved around the need for supporting data. This is considered a provisional type.
Tangipahoa Stemmed
Provisional TypeCluster:
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a thick medium to large (2,5 to 3.5 inches) triangular stemmed point with an elliptical cross section. The blade may range from excurvate to straight. This point is noted for notches on the blade. One to four notches have been noted. The shoulders are primarily straight, but may be slightly barbed to slightly angle upwards. The stem is most notably straight, but may be contracting. The base is straight to slightly convex with remnants of the cortex commonly present. This point has a random flaking pattern.
Size Measurements:
Total Length - 40 to 85 mm (average 60 mm), Stem Length - 10 to 15 mm, Blade Width (at shoulder below notch) - 20 to 35 mm (average 27 mm), Stem Width (at shoulder) - 10 to 20 mm, Thickness - 8 to 15 mm (average 11 mm).
Total Length - 40 to 85 mm (average 60 mm), Stem Length - 10 to 15 mm, Blade Width (at shoulder below notch) - 20 to 35 mm (average 27 mm), Stem Width (at shoulder) - 10 to 20 mm, Thickness - 8 to 15 mm (average 11 mm).
Commonly Utilized Material:
Locally available gravel chert with heat treatment occasionally being used.
Locally available gravel chert with heat treatment occasionally being used.
Additional Comments:
MaGahey (2000), It is felt that the St. Tammany and St. Helena evolved into this point and suggested that this was a Middle Archaic period point based on this association. No radiocarbon dating supported this date. However, Rees (2010) notes the similarities to the Evans points and suggest that this may be a localized variant of the Evans point focused in the region of western Mississippi. He includes this point in the Middle Archaic Evans Horizon.
Doty notes:
TANGIPAHOA (Stemmed & Side Notched) – is from the Acolapissa language and means ‘those who gather corn’. This point type was named by amateurs for examples recovered from sites along the Tangipahoa River. The type site is the Hoover archaeology site (16TA5) in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. They are medium sized (2 ½” to 3 ½”) fairly thick biconvex projectiles and knives with one to four notches on each side of the blades. Stems are straight or contracted. Basal corners are sharp or round. Shoulders are horizontal, tapered or barbed. They are mostly percussion flaked and believed to be related to the earlier Saint Helena and Saint Tammany types and they look similar to and are of the same time period as the Evans points found in Arkansas, but have better workmanship on average. Distribution includes Louisiana, Mississippi and they were in use during the Late Archaic to Woodland period.
MaGahey (2000), It is felt that the St. Tammany and St. Helena evolved into this point and suggested that this was a Middle Archaic period point based on this association. No radiocarbon dating supported this date. However, Rees (2010) notes the similarities to the Evans points and suggest that this may be a localized variant of the Evans point focused in the region of western Mississippi. He includes this point in the Middle Archaic Evans Horizon.
Doty notes:
TANGIPAHOA (Stemmed & Side Notched) – is from the Acolapissa language and means ‘those who gather corn’. This point type was named by amateurs for examples recovered from sites along the Tangipahoa River. The type site is the Hoover archaeology site (16TA5) in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. They are medium sized (2 ½” to 3 ½”) fairly thick biconvex projectiles and knives with one to four notches on each side of the blades. Stems are straight or contracted. Basal corners are sharp or round. Shoulders are horizontal, tapered or barbed. They are mostly percussion flaked and believed to be related to the earlier Saint Helena and Saint Tammany types and they look similar to and are of the same time period as the Evans points found in Arkansas, but have better workmanship on average. Distribution includes Louisiana, Mississippi and they were in use during the Late Archaic to Woodland period.
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found in the southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi.
This point is primarily found in the southeastern Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi.
Age / Periods:
Date: 4,000 - 3,000 B.P.
Cultural Period: Late Archaic to Early Woodland
Glacial Period: Neoglacial
Culture:
Date: 4,000 - 3,000 B.P.
Cultural Period: Late Archaic to Early Woodland
Glacial Period: Neoglacial
Culture:
Age Details:
