Ground bases

[ncuke]

Hi folks,

I have a point that I've posted on here before that appears to have the "ears" ground smooth, but the indentation above the ear is not... Can anyone post a good example of a ground base? Here is a pic of an ear which you can see is round and smooth. But not sure why that would be smooth when the indent is not... I've gotten feedback from many folks on here of woodland or archaic, so revisiting this as this seems to be a main distinguishing characteristic.

Thanks!

 

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[intensecrasher]

Here are some pictures that I found online.

 

[ncuke]

Perhaps I'm just unfamiliar but neither if those look ground to me

 

[intensecrasher]

In the second picture (the first one with two pictures combined) you can see the sharp edges on the top picture and the ground base on the picture below it. compare the edges with the base and you should be able to easily see the difference.

 

[Jon Stewart]

Would like to read opinions as to why they ground the bases.

I think I know why but would like to read others thoughts.

 

[Road Dog]

I've found points similar style ground the same way. Heavy grinding on the ears. Seen a lot of early Archaic stuff like that.

 

[intensecrasher]

I believe that bases were ground to prevent the stone projectile from cutting the sinew and other hafting material.

 

[Road Dog]

Here is a base pic of an early archaic point similar to your base style. Just the ears heavily ground.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Here are some pics of some of my Thebes, Lost Lakes, and Doves with ground bases. The Paleo and Archaic cultures ground the basal areas of most of their Point types. The practice seemed to taper off during the Woodland period and is completely absent from the Ft Ancient culture. As to why they did it, the theory mentioned above about not cutting the lashes makes the most sense, but then why did the Adena, Hopewell, and Ft Ancient discontinue the practice.

 

[intensecrasher]

Here are some pics of some of my Thebes, Lost Lakes, and Doves with ground bases. The Paleo and Archaic cultures ground the basal areas of most of their Point types. The practice seemed to taper off during the Woodland period and is completely absent from the Ft Ancient culture. As to why they did it, the theory mentioned above about not cutting the lashes makes the most sense, but then why did the Adena, Hopewell, and Ft Ancient discontinue the practice.

Maybe the later cultures developed better hafting technology?

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Maybe the later cultures developed better hafting technology?

If you look at some of the Arrows found in dry caves out west you can see the sinew that was still being used for lashing on unground Points so the hafting technique never really changed that much.

 

[ncuke]

Well thanks so much to everyone for their input and photos! Road dog the ears on that point look almost identical to mine. I guess it is still a mystery but I am now less convinced that my point is woodland despite some pretty convincing evidence otherwise. Il just take it for what it is and enjoy it : )

 

[GatorBoy]

If you look at some of the Arrows found in dry caves out west you can see the sinew that was still being used for lashing on unground Points so the hafting technique never really changed that much.

Possibly it was a combination of improved preparation of the sinew and better adhesive.

 

[GatorBoy]

 

[intensecrasher]

View attachment 987741

Holy cow, is that hafting pitch that is still on the point?

 

[GatorBoy]

Yes.. Found preserved in some deep muck in Texas

 

[Charl]

Here are some pictures that I found online.

View attachment 987352View attachment 987353View attachment 987354

A friend of mine found that point in Ct. Munsungun chert from northern Maine.....

 

[intensecrasher]

A friend of mine found that point in Ct. Munsungun chert from northern Maine.....

Its a small world Charl! I wish I would have found it someplace other than google