Gypsum Cave points were discovered together with the remains of extinct
ground sloth in a cave near Las Vegas, Nevada.
The over-all shape of Gypsum Cave points is elongate triangular. The
straight upper lateral edges comprise virtually the entire length of
specimens. The lower portion is characterized by a short stem formed by
the abrupt sloping back of base edges from marked shoulders; the base is
rounded. They are broadest from shoulder to shoulder. Average length of
Gypsum Cave points is 5.0 to about 6.5 cm., and width about 3.0 cm.
Flaking seems to have been produced by direct percussion. Initial flake
scars are irregular. Secondary thinning of lateral edges is apparently
absent. Stem edges were produced by multi-directional flaking. They are
not smoothed.
[Illustration: _Gypsum Cave_]
The estimated age of Gypsum Cave points at the type site is from about
8,000 to 10,000 years. Points similar to these were found in a cave in
the Manzano Mountains near Albuquerque and south of the Sandias. A
specimen was recovered from the Lindenmeier Site in Colorado above the
Folsom layer.