edges convex, curving gradually and regularly to the point; usually
widest about one-third of the way above the base; varying much in
width, and in length from 6½ inches down to the arrowpoint. A few of
the largest have the edges slightly expanding at their junction with
the base, for firmer attachment to a handle. The type is figure 179
(from Loudon county, Tennessee). Other specimens are from eastern
Tennessee; central and western North Carolina; Kanawha valley; Keokuk,
Iowa; Miami and Scioto valleys, and central Ohio; eastern, southern,
and southwestern Wisconsin; northeastern Arkansas; central and
northeastern Kentucky; northwestern Georgia, and Savannah; southwestern
Illinois; and Coosa valley, Alabama.
[Illustration: FIG. 179.--Chipped flint.]
_D._ Narrow and thick; up to 6 inches long; convex base; edges straight
to the base, where they expand somewhat, giving the implement a bell
shape. The largest specimen in the lot (figure 180) has both faces
polished almost the entire length, a feature absent from all the
others. This example is from Caldwell county, North Carolina. The form
is found also in central and western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee,
northeastern Kentucky; Kanawha valley; and northeastern Arkansas. Few
of the flints occur in the collection except from the two localities
first mentioned, where they are moderately abundant.
[Illustration: FIG. 180.--Chipped flint, somewhat bell-shape.]
_E._ Elliptical outline; some very thin, others resembling celts.
One from Kanawha valley has the projecting facets and ridges on one
face very smooth from use, those on the other being still sharp, as
when first chipped. The one figured has the edge worn smooth entirely
around, seemingly from use as a cutting tool, the ends being most worn.
Represented by figure 181 (from Dane county, Wisconsin). Found also in
southern and southwestern Wisconsin; eastern Tennessee; northeastern
Arkansas; central and western North Carolina; Brown county, Illinois;
Kanawha valley; and South Carolina.
[Illustration: FIG. 181.--Chipped flint, elliptical outline.]
[Illustration: FIG. 182.--Chipped flint, leaf-shape or oval outline.]
_F._ With the outline a continuous curve from the point entirely
around, the base being regularly rounded. This is the model of the
pointed oval or leaf-shape flint. Sometimes one face is flatter than
the other, being less worked, or in a few cases the unaltered flat side
of a flake. Usually they are quite symmetrical, but occasionally one
edge is more curved than the other. The type illustrated in figure
182 is from Vernon county, Wisconsin. Other specimens are from western
and central Wisconsin; eastern Tennessee; Miami and Scioto valleys,
and central Ohio; southwestern Illinois; Kanawha valley; northeastern
Kentucky; northeastern and southwestern Arkansas; northwestern and
northeastern Georgia, and Savannah.
[Illustration: FIG. 183.--Chipped flint.]
_G._ With convex edges and slightly convex base; being a medium between
the triangular and the leaf-shape. Some are quite narrow and thick,
others wide and thin; the former probably clubs or spearheads, the
latter knives. A good example, shown in figure 183, is from Savannah,
Georgia. Others are from central Arkansas; central Ohio; eastern
Tennessee; Kanawha valley; central North Carolina; southern Wisconsin;
northwestern Georgia, and Savannah; northeastern Alabama; and South
Carolina.
[Illustration: FIG. 184.--Chipped flint, large, pointed elliptical
outline.]
_H._ Pointed at each end; mostly elliptical, though sometimes widest
near one end; from 5 to 12 inches long. Nearly all are thin and
finely worked, with sharp edges. One from Cheatham county, Tennessee,
has a deep notch on each edge about one-third of the way from one
end, this end being somewhat rounded. The type (figure 184) is from
Lonoke county, Arkansas. Other specimens are from central Arkansas,
southwestern Illinois, northern and eastern Tennessee.
[Illustration: FIG. 185.--Chipped flint, large, long sharp point.]
_I._ A similar pattern, but having one end continued into a narrow
point, shown in figure 185, is from Bartow county, Georgia. Another of
the same kind comes from Loudon county, Tennessee.
_J._ Similar to group _H_, but with the edges straight for more than
half the length, probably to afford a more convenient hold for the
hand. The form is shown in figure 186, representing a specimen from
Mississippi county, Arkansas. Others are from northwestern Georgia,
southwestern Illinois, and northeastern Arkansas. There are a few
similar in method of chipping to those of group _I_, but smaller and
very narrow, from eastern and western Tennessee and northeastern
Arkansas.
_K._ Double-pointed or lenticular in outline; quite symmetrical; from
2 to 4 inches long; thin and well worked. Represented in northeastern
Arkansas; South Carolina; central and western North Carolina; eastern
Tennessee; Scioto valley, and central Ohio; Kanawha valley; and
northwestern Georgia.
[Illustration: FIG. 186.--Chipped flint, large.]
[Illustration: FIG. 187.--Chipped flint.]
_L._ With straight or concave base; edges diverging by straight or
slightly convex lines for about half the length from the base, then
curving to the point. There is considerable variation in the relative
width of these, as well as the amount of concavity at the base. None
with this outline of the edges has a convex base. From 2 to 6 inches
long. The form is illustrated by figures 187 (from Lawrence county,
Ohio), and 188 (from Blount county, Tennessee). In addition to the
specimens figured, there is material in the collection from Scioto
valley, Ohio; central and western North Carolina; Keokuk, Iowa; Brown
county, Illinois; eastern Tennessee; northeastern Alabama, and Coosa
valley in the same state; Kanawha valley; South Carolina; southern
Wisconsin; and Savannah, Georgia.
[Illustration: FIG. 188.--Chipped flint.]
[Illustration: FIG. 189.--Chipped flint, with shoulders.]
_M._ A modification of the last form in which the edge expands just
at the base, forming a point at each corner or shoulder. Illustrated
in figure 189. The specimen figured is from Forsyth county, Georgia.
Others are from northwestern Georgia, and Savannah; eastern Tennessee;
northeastern Kentucky; southwestern Wisconsin; and Kanawha valley.
SMALLER OBJECTS.
Small triangular or oval arrowpoints, differing from those previously
described in being too small for any similar uses, few of them being
so much as two inches in length, and varying from that size to not
more than half an inch. Nearly all are very thin, though some of the
narrower ones may have a diamond or thick lenticular section. Some are
very slender, so much so that they are usually classed as perforators;
others are equilateral. Both the base and edges may be straight,
convex, or concave. A few have a shallow notch in each edge just above
the corner; nearly all, however, have both base and edge continuous.
[Illustration: FIG. 190.--Chipped flint, small.]
[Illustration: FIG. 191.--Chipped flint, triangular.]
The groups and subdivisions which have been recognized among the
smaller chipped flint objects in the Bureau collection may be
enumerated as follows:
_A._ Concave base. The concavity may vary from almost a straight line
to one-third the length of the flint. Usually symmetric, as in figures
190 and 191, though sometimes one tang or barb, if it may be called
such, is longer than the other, as in figure 192. A very few have
beveled or serrated edges.
1. Convex edges. The type, shown in figure 190, is from Jefferson
county, Tennessee. Other specimens are from eastern Tennessee; Union
county, Mississippi; northwestern Georgia, and Bibb county and Savannah
in the same state; central and western North Carolina; Miami and
Scioto valleys and central Ohio; Kanawha valley, West Virginia; South
Carolina; and southwestern Arkansas.
[Illustration: FIG. 192.--Chipped flint, asymmetric.]
[Illustration: FIG. 193.--Chipped flint, concave edges.]
2. Straight edges, as in the specimen illustrated in figure 191, from
Ouachita county, Arkansas. Similar specimens are found in northeastern
and southwestern Arkansas; western and central North Carolina; Kanawha
valley; eastern Wisconsin; northwestern Georgia, and Savannah; eastern
Tennessee; South Carolina; southwestern Illinois; Union county,
Mississippi; and northeastern Kentucky.
3. Concave edges. This abundant form is illustrated in figures 192
(Cherokee county, Georgia), 193 (Caldwell county, North Carolina),
and 194 (Washington county, Virginia). Other specimens are from
northwestern Georgia and Savannah; central and western North Carolina;
Kanawha valley; eastern Tennessee; northeastern Kentucky; southwestern
Arkansas; South Carolina; Union county, Mississippi; and Coosa valley,
Alabama. This subdivision of group _A_ is abundant, as well as widely
distributed.
[Illustration: FIG. 194.--Chipped flint, triangular.]
_B._ With straight bases. These are all small, the broad ones being
short and the long ones slender. Most of them are both short and narrow.
[Illustration: FIG. 195.--Chipped flint, small.]
[Illustration: FIG. 196.--Chipped flint, short, convex edges.]
1. Convex edges as in figures 195 (McMinn county, Tennessee) and
196 (Bradley county, Tennessee). The form is widely distributed,
being represented by specimens from eastern Tennessee; northeastern,
southwestern, and southeastern Arkansas; Scioto valley, Ohio;
northeastern Kentucky; northwestern Georgia and Savannah; Kanawha
valley; Union county, Mississippi; Holt county, Missouri; northeastern
Alabama, and Coosa valley in the same state; southern and southwestern
Wisconsin; and western North Carolina.
2. Straight edges. Exemplified by the specimen shown in figure 197,
from McMinn county, Tennessee. Found also in eastern Tennessee;
northeastern Arkansas; Coosa valley, Alabama; Union county,
Mississippi; Kanawha valley; Miami and Scioto valleys, Ohio; eastern,
southern, and southwestern Wisconsin; western and central North
Carolina; Bartow county and Savannah, Georgia; South Carolina, and
northeastern Kentucky.
[Illustration: FIG. 197.--Chipped flint, triangular.]
[Illustration: FIG. 198.--Chipped flint, concave edges.]
3. Concave edges, as in figure 198 (from Bledsoe county, Tennessee).
Other examples of this class are from eastern Tennessee; Scioto valley,
Ohio; northeastern and southwestern Arkansas; Kanawha valley, West
Virginia; northeastern Kentucky; western and central North Carolina;
northeastern Alabama; southwestern Illinois; and Savannah, Georgia.
_C._ Convex bases. Less abundant than the preceding, and the forms
representing it are less variable. Its sub-groups are as follows:
[Illustration: FIG. 199.--Chipped flint, convex base.]
1. Convex edges. Some of these have a slight reverse curve at the base,
giving a slight barb or shoulder. A few are widest at or near the
middle, with bases somewhat pointed, but most of them are widest at
the junction of the base and edges. They are mostly of the leaf-shaped
type, but quite small. Figure 199 (Mississippi county, Arkansas) is a
good example. Others are from northeastern and southwestern Arkansas;
northeastern Alabama and Coosa valley; Kanawha valley, West Virginia;
eastern Tennessee; western and central North Carolina; northwestern
Georgia; eastern Wisconsin; southwestern Illinois, and Miami valley,
Ohio.
2. Edges concave or nearly straight. There are very few of this form,
as nearly all with the base convex have the edges also convex. The type
(figure 200) is from Lawrence county, Ohio; others are from Miami and
Scioto valleys, Ohio; Kanawha valley; and southeastern and southwestern
Arkansas.
Two exceptional forms, which may be considered modifications of the
triangular, come from eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina.
The first, which is pentagonal, is shown in figure 201; the second,
a medium between a perforator and a deeply serrated, triangular
arrowpoint, is shown in figure 202.
[Illustration: FIG. 200.--Chipped flint, edges concave.]
[Illustration: FIG. 201.--Chipped flint, pentagonal.]
While it is likely that the smaller flints, last described, were
intended for arrows, it can not be stated with confidence whether they
were for use in war or in hunting. It is said that some of the western
Indians used barbless arrows with, long, tapering blades, firmly
attached to the shaft, for hunting, while for war barbed arrows, only
slightly attached, were employed.[173]
In many arrows with triangular points in the National Museum the sinew
with which the flint is fastened to the shaft is brought over the
corner or shoulder in such a way as to bind the point as firmly as
could be done if it were barbed or stemmed, so that when the shaft is
drawn from a wound the point must come with it. If an arrowhead of this
form were inserted in a shaft, which was then wrapped behind the flint,
the latter would remain in the wound when the shaft was withdrawn.
[Illustration: FIG. 202.--Chipped flint, narrow and thick.]
There is no reason for supposing that only the larger points were used
for war purposes; the greater penetrating power of the thin, sharp ones
would seem to fit them especially for such work, and it is probable
that the smaller straight or tapering-stemmed flints (next to be
described) were also utilized for this purpose, as they could be easily
detached. Those with expanding stem may have been used for hunting, as
they could be permanently fastened to the shaft.
STEMMED FLINTS.
The abundant and variable material of this class may roughly be grouped
by form into two divisions, in the first of which the stem is tapering
or straight, while in the second the stem is generally expanding.
STRAIGHT OR TAPER STEMS.
_A._ Square or rounded shoulders; stem concave at base; edges usually
convex, rarely straight or concave. Nearly all are of quartzite or
coarse flint, roughly worked, the one illustrated (figure 203) being
above the average, and are mostly from western North Carolina and the
adjacent portions of South Carolina and Tennessee. All of them exceed
three inches in length. Those from Savannah, Georgia, are usually
much wider relative to the length than the specimens in the Bureau
collection from other localities.
The specimen figured is from Montgomery county, North Carolina; others
are from western and central North Carolina; Kanawha valley; eastern
Tennessee; South Carolina; Coosa valley, Alabama; and northwestern
Georgia and Savannah.
_B._ Similar to the last, except that the base is straight or convex,
instead of concave. Large size, and nearly all of rough finish; mostly
of argillite or flint, a few of quartzite. Varying considerably in
width, as well as in thickness, some having almost a diamond section,
others wide and thin, the latter generally having the edges worked
quite sharp. Some are made from a large flake which has been dressed
on one side only. One from Montgomery county, North Carolina, has the
end opposite the stem worked round and sharp, similar to the blunt
arrowheads, but its size excludes it from this class. From Savannah
there are several which are chipped very thin, and smoothly finished,
but they are exceptional; some from this locality are very large,
reaching 5 by 3 inches, while others are almost as wide as they are
long.
[Illustration: FIG. 203.--Chipped flint stemmed, barbless.]
The specimens of this form are chiefly from western and central North
Carolina; eastern Tennessee; South Carolina; southwestern Georgia,
and Savannah; eastern Wisconsin; southwestern Arkansas; southwestern
Illinois; northwestern Alabama and Coosa valley in the same state;
Kanawha valley, West Virginia; and central Ohio.
_C._ Of the same general form as the last, but much smaller, and
finely worked. Most seem to be intended for arrowheads. The specimen
illustrated in figure 204 is from Caldwell county, North Carolina;
others are from South Carolina; western and central North Carolina;
Union county, Mississippi; eastern Tennessee; Coosa valley and
Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Miami valley, Ohio; Kanawha valley; northwestern
and southwestern Georgia and Savannah; and southeastern Arkansas.
[Illustration: FIG. 204.--Chipped flint, stemmed, barbless.]
_D._ Convex edges; stem usually tapering with straight base, though it
is noticeable that some are straight with convex base. Resembling the
last in form, but slender; from 1¾ to 4¼ inches long. From western and
central North Carolina; Kanawha valley, West Virginia; and Savannah,
Georgia.
[Illustration: FIG. 205.--Chipped flint, expanding shoulder.]
[Illustration: FIG. 206.--Chipped flint, double-curved edges.]
_E._ Differing from specimen shown in figure 203, in having the edges
expand at the shoulders in a projection or point, and varying more
in size, some being small enough for arrowheads. All from Savannah
(including the example shown in figure 205) are of smoother finish
than those from other sections, and are usually larger, ranging
from 2½ to 4½ inches long. There are some from this locality with
base straight or convex. Found also in western and central North
Carolina; Kanawha valley; South Carolina; eastern Tennessee; Coosa
valley and northeastern Alabama; Brown county, Illinois; northeastern,
southeastern, and southwestern Arkansas; and southwestern Georgia.
_F._ Edge having a double curve, being convex toward the point, and
curving outward at the shoulders. Few of them are barbed, though many
have the shoulder much expanded. Base sometimes convex or concave, but
more often straight; in a few it is somewhat pointed. In most of the
smaller specimens the base is notched, but of these none are over 2½
inches long. Stem tapering or expanding, rarely straight. A few have
the base rubbed smooth and dull, or even polished (this feature appears
in other forms, as noted); it seems to result from use as a knife or
scraper, but the implement as a whole does not appear to be adapted
to such use. None of them are over 3½ inches long, except a few from
Savannah; all from there are wide, but from other places the longer
ones are all narrow.
[Illustration: FIG. 207.--Chipped flint, double-curved edges.]
[Illustration: FIG. 208.--Chipped flint, convex edges, long, tapering
stem.]
The specimens illustrated (figures 206 and 207) are from Madison
county, Alabama, and Kanawha valley, respectively. Others are from
northeastern Alabama and Coosa valley; eastern Tennessee; northwestern
and southwestern Georgia and Savannah; Kanawha valley; Catahoula
parish, Louisiana; western and central North Carolina; southwestern
Illinois and Brown county in the same state; South Carolina;
southwestern Arkansas; and Miami valley, Ohio.
_G._ Convex edges; sharp points; stem always long and tapering; base
somewhat pointed, or outline of whole stem forming a regular curve.
Some slightly barbed, but mostly with only a small shoulder. The
specimens vary much in size, and also in delicacy of workmanship.
Classed by function the group would probably be divided among several.
The example shown in figure 208 is from Jackson county, Illinois.
Others come from southwestern Illinois; eastern Tennessee; South
Carolina; Kanawha valley; northeastern, southeastern, and southwestern
Arkansas; western and central Arkansas; and southern Wisconsin.
_H._ Similar to group _G_, save that the edges are straight while the
stem is somewhat shorter. All the specimens are small. Found in western
North Carolina; Kanawha valley, West Virginia; South Carolina; and
southeastern Arkansas.
[Illustration: FIG. 209.--Chipped flint with long, tapering stem.]
_I._ Differing from group _G_ in having concave sides; none are barbed,
and some have very wide shoulders. Nearly all are large. Two from
Savannah have the base straight, all the others being of the common
type. The type (fairly exemplified in figure 209) is from Union county,
Illinois, and others come from southwestern Illinois; southwestern
Arkansas; South Carolina; western North Carolina; Kanawha valley, West
Virginia; eastern Tennessee; and Savannah, Georgia.
[Illustration: FIG. 210.--Stemmed chipped flint, diamond or lozenge
shape.]
_J._ Lozenge or diamond shape; the four edges straight or nearly so,
varying a little toward convexity or concavity. In some the base
does not come to a point but is rounded or truncated; sometimes,
though seldom, there is a slight shoulder. From 1¼ to 3½ inches long.
A typical example, shown in figure 210, is from Chester county,
South Carolina. Additional material is from South Carolina; Kanawha
valley; Brown and Ogle counties, Illinois; eastern Tennessee; western
North Carolina; Bibb county and Savannah, Georgia; southeastern and
southwestern Arkansas; Union county, Mississippi; and Coosa valley,
Alabama.
[Illustration: FIG. 211.--Stemmed chipped flint.]
_K._ Edges usually convex, sometimes nearly straight, gradually
rounding off into the stem, which may be straight, tapering, or
slightly expanding; base straight or slightly convex. All of these
are narrow, mostly thick, and none over two inches long. The type
(figure 211) is from Bledsoe county, Tennessee; others are from eastern
Tennessee; western and central North Carolina; Coosa valley, Alabama;
northwestern Georgia; eastern, southern, and southwestern Wisconsin;
Kanawha valley, West Virginia; South Carolina; Brown county, Illinois;
and northeastern and southeastern Arkansas.
[Illustration: FIG. 212.--Stemmed chipped flint.]
_L._ Edges convex, a very few being straight; shoulders square or
somewhat rounded, in two or three somewhat expanding. Stem usually
straight, sometimes tapering; base straight or convex. Varying much
in size and relative width, being from 1¼ to 4½ inches long, and from
¾ to 2½ inches wide; some slender, others broad. Nearly all are quite
roughly made. Illustrated in figure 212 (from Cherokee county, Georgia).
Like many other forms of small chipped implements, the distribution
in this type is wide. It comes from northwestern Georgia and about
Savannah; Kanawha valley, West Virginia; Miami valley, Ohio;
southwestern Illinois; western and central North Carolina; eastern
Tennessee; northeastern Alabama and Coosa valley in the same state; and
southwestern Arkansas.
_M._ Convex edges; sharp points; very slight shoulders; stem tapering
by curved lines; base convex or somewhat pointed. All made of quartz,
quartzite, or coarse flint, and differing from the following group only
in being very slender and, owing to the material employed, much more
roughly finished. Found in western North Carolina, in South Carolina,
and in southwestern Arkansas.
_N._ Convex edges; remarkably symmetrical outline; most specimens
finely finished; slight shoulders; tapering stem, with convex base, the
whole stem having a quite regularly curved outline. From 2 to 4½ inches
long.
[Illustration: FIG. 213.--Stemmed chipped flint, ovoid.]
The type which is shown in figure 213 is from Dane county, Wisconsin.
This group also is widely distributed, being found in southern and
southwestern Wisconsin; northeastern Kentucky; southwestern Illinois;
Miami and Scioto valleys, Ohio, and the central part of the same
state; northeastern, central, and southeastern Arkansas; western North
Carolina; and Kanawha valley.
[Illustration: FIG. 214.--Stemmed chipped flint, short blade.]
_O._ Differing from group _N_ only in having longer stems and shorter
blades, the latter sometimes less than an inch. Illustrated in figure
214 (from Kanawha valley). Found also in Scioto valley and in central
Ohio; southwestern Wisconsin; southwestern Arkansas; and southwestern
Georgia.