very unique point, check it and HELP please, ummm MATT ;)

[chong2]

my friend found this today, its a inch and half long very delicately worked. its not damaged at all, and was made this way, we are having heck of a hard time figuring this out, so HELP!!!!!!!!!!! kinda reminds me of the one 37 posted up awhile back with the spokeshave notched in it. my friend is thinking maybe used as a fish hook since the spokeshave is out of the question hense the size.

 

[Atlantis0077]

Morning,

I am sure Matt can give you the definitive classification on that point, but for kicks, I would call it a Charcos. That is the closest thing I can find to the points found in my area anyhow.

Atlantis

 

[joshuaream]

I've seen some really well made arrow points like that from both sides of the river down near Presidio Tx and around the Big Bend area, maybe it's one of those 'on the border' type points (Charcos, Duran, etc.) that have a lot of Mexican influence...

What's the material?

 

[Th3rty7]

Interesting piece...maybe the extra notch was for hafting purposes? jmo

 

[chong2]

afternoon atlantis! i spoke to matt earlier and he is saying the same thing you all are, its closer to the Dry Prong and Temporal, but i do not like how the base is on those compared to this one. possibly Charcos.... yes josh, your right on, it was actually found in new mexico. 37, check out the dry prongs and temporals from my area, those people are unique in doing that notching form, there are some photos in the overstreet that show the cordage or hafting material attached, and the notch has nothing to do with it, that was my first thought also. its strange and very interesting why they did this,
Thanks everyone!

 

[chong2]

o, sorry josh, i dunno the material, im still learning that. some sort of flint or chert for sure tho.

 

[Neanderthal]

I believe that piece is much later than Charcos. From what I can see, it appears more of a smaller arrow point than a dart. Charcos are typically a dart sized point that are very comparable to Shumla.

It's not uncommon to find stemmed points with an extra notch in them, especially in the southwest. Charcos, Temporal, Dry Prong and others are very common and similar points occur all the way up into western Canada. Many of the Kamloops side-notched points in B.C. (as well as others) have the extra notch. Bob Davidson in B.C. calls the extra-notched ones "clan" points, postulating that it could be for group identification. Who knows. I'm sure much of it could also be for trying different methods of securing it to the haft, or maybe even serve a separate function altogether.

It's possible that the piece could be from the Chaco cluster of points, but it sure doesn't fit the classic form for the named ones. Justice attributes the Temporal to the Chaco cluster of points and one of the identifiers is the "extra" notch on the side. However, most of the Chaco type points are more side or corner notched, the Temporal itself greatly resembling a Keota. I have personally examined a large group of Chaco Cluster points ( Bonito, Chaco, Pueblo, etc) from a well-known collection that had a point or two with the exact same form as your point.

From what I have seen, the random side notching does occur in many later arrow points. Believe it or not, you will also find it occur sporadically even in Wa--deleted--a / Huffaker variants. Come to think of it, I have one of the best ones I have ever seen here in my collection somewhere! I may have to find that and take a picture of it for you..lol.

Hey, take a real good look at the notching area of that piece when you get a chance. I would be curious to know if the notches have a recurved appearance, or take an upward turn. Look at where the ding is on the base and see if you can tell from that. It looks like the side of the base that is dinged would have come out much further than the other side, which would greatly reinforce it being related to Chaco or Puebloan piece.

Good talking to you today Chong!