Name Details:
Named By: Dee Ann Suhm, Alex D. Krieger, Edward B. Jelks
Named For: Uvalde
County, Texas
Date Identified: 1954
Type Site:
Uvalde
AKA: Early Corner Notch (Baker)
Cluster:
Commonly Utilized Material:
Date:
Cultural Period:
8,000 - 6,000 B.P. **
Early Archaic
Middle Holocene
Glacial Period:
Culture:
Outline is Representative of Size and Shape:
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a medium
(typically 2 to 2.5 inches) stemmed triangular point with a flattened to elliptical cross section. The blade is primarily excurvate, but may vary to straight. The blade
may have a triangular to lanceolate appearance. The blade maybe serrated. The shoulders may vary from barbed to having an
upward angle. The stem
ranges from slightly expanding to expanding or almost straight. The base is
concave with a deep U shape which may give the base a bifurcated
appearance. This point has a random flaking pattern.
Size Measurements: Total Length - 40 to
100 mm (average 60 mm), Stem Length - 10 to 20 mm (typically 1/4
to 1/8 of the total length), Blade Width - 20 to 35 mm, Stem Width - 13
to 20 mm, Basal Concavity - 3 to 5 mm (Suhm and Krieger, 1954).
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily found in central Texas. This point may be found with decreased frequency into southern Oklahoma,
into coastal regions, and the lower Pecos River valley at the confluence
with the Rio Grande river.
Additional Comments:
** Suhm and Krieger
(1954) place the age of the Uvalde point at 6,000 to 1,000 B.P. Many
other sources use this date and many consider it a coeval with the later
Pedrenales point. Turner and Hester (1985) place the Uvalde point much
older, placing it in the Early Archic period. This is based on points
such as the Early Triangle, Early Side Notch, Martindale, and Gower points
that are commonly associated with the Uvalde point.
This point has been referred to as a Middle Archaic to Late Archaic point, However research has shown this point to be an early Archaic point (Turner and Hester, 1985).
This point may be distinguished from the Frio point by the flaring outward
ears of the Frio point. This point is similar to the Martindale point,
except is does not have the fishtail appearance of the Martindale point.
This point is similar to the Pedernales, but this point flares out towards
the base while remaining almost straight on the Pedernales point (Suhm and
Krieger, 1954). Flaking on the Uvalde points tend to be more uniform,
similar to the flaking on the Martindale points while Pedernales flaking
patterns are more random.
The Early Corner Notch (Baker) is found in the lower Pecos region and is though to be a regional variant of this point (Turner and Hester, 1985).
Other points in this Cluster:
Point Validity: Valid Type
Suhm was an eminent Texas
anthropologist who, among many distinguished positions, served as Director of Texas Archeological Research Laboratory. Krieger was a renowned anthropologist who spent most
of his career in Texas cataloging projectile points and pottery in Texas before moving on to the University of Washington. Jelks was a distinguished anthropologist and
helped organize the newly formed Department of Anthropology at Illinois State University where he was a Professor. His work in Texas furthered the understanding of Texas
archeology and was a founding force for the Society of Historical Archeology. This type was named in a professional publication and subsequent book and has many
professional references. This is a valid type.
.
Age Details:
At the Phamtom Springs Site (41JD63) in Jeff
Davis County, Texas, Uvalde points were found in Early Archaic levels
(Perttula, 2004). At the Culebra Creek site (41BX126) Bexar County
Texas, Uvalde points and Martindale points were found in the same Early
Archaic levels (University of San Antonio, 2001)
References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):
8,
23, 30, 178, W11
Uvalde Projectile Point, Uvalde Arrowhead
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