Stone Age Spear & Arrow Points of the Southwestern United States

The American Southwest is the focus for this volume in Noel Justice's series of reference works that survey, describe, and categorize the projectile point and cutting tools used in prehistory by Native American peoples. Written for archaeologists and amateur collectors alike, the book describes over 50 types of stone arrowhead and spear points according to period, culture, and region. With the knowledge of someone trained to fashion projectile points with techniques used by the Indians, Justice describes how the points were made, used, and re-sharpened. His detailed drawings illustrate the way the Indians shaped their tools, what styles were peculiar to which regions, and how the various types can best be identified. There are hundreds of drawings, organized by type cluster and other identifying characteristics. The book also includes distribution maps and color plates that will further aid the researcher or collector in identifying specific periods, cultures, and projectile types.

"This title has been reviewed jointly with Stone Age spear and arrow points of California and the Great Basin, by Noel D. Justice. Justice's two volumes continue the format of his 1988 survey and compilation of projectile points recovered from the midcontinental and eastern US. Together, they provide detailed information about 52 point types known from excavation and surface collection in the Southwest, the Great Basin, and California. Each distinctive form is first defined by shape and unique aspects of flaking and base shape, then by its first known occurrence in the archaeological record. Age and cultural affiliation and geographical distribution are presented, with frequent citations to the detailed bibliography at the end of each volume. The volumes begin with a series of high-quality color plates illustrating type specimens of each cluster, followed by an identification key. Introductory essays set forth each book's organization, present issues relating to the illustration, photography, and metrical classification of projectile points, discuss raw materials and technologies used in manufacture, and evaluate evidence for a possible pre-Clovis occupation horizon in North America. Written for both general readers and practicing archaeologists, these works belong in all college, university, field laboratory, and museum libraries supporting courses and research in North American archaeology." --R. B. M. Ridinger, Northern Illinois University, 2002dec CHOICE Indiana University Press Indiana University Press

Part of a series of regional guides that surveys, describes and categorises projectile points and cutting tools in prehistory, this volume focuses on the American Southwest. Many different types of projectiles are identified, described, and illustrated, along with discussion of the production process and retouch, accompanied by distribution maps and photographs.

Preliminary Table of Contents:

List of figures

List of color plates

List of maps

Preface

Acknowledgments

Projectile Point Identification Key

Introduction

Type Descriptions and Type Clusters (The Organizational Concept for the Book); Illustration and Photography of Projectile Points; Metrical Classification of Projectile Points; Projectile Point Manufacture; Weapon Technology; The Earliest Ancestors

Projectile Point Type Descriptions

Clovis Cluster

Clovis

Folsom Cluster

Folsom

Lanceolate Plano Cluster

Plainview; Midland; Agate Basin; Milnesand

Great Basin Stemmed Cluster

Lake Mojave; Silver Lake

Scottsbluff Cluster

Scottsbluff; Eden; Cody Knife

Bajada Cluster

Bajada

San Jos

San Jos

Pinto Cluster

Pinto

Northern Side Notched Cluster

Northern Side Notched; Sudden Side Notched; San Rafael Side

Notched; Ventana Side Notched

Pandale Cluster

Pandale

Datil Cluster

Datil

Cortaro Cluster

Cortaro

Maljamar Cluster

Maljamar

Gypsum Cluster

Gypsum

San Pedro Cluster

San Pedro Corner Notched

Black Mesa Cluster

Black Mesa Narrow Neck

Cienega Cluster

Tularosa Corner Notched; Tularosa Basal Notched; Carlsbad

Livermore Cluster

Guadalupe; Livermore

Dolores Cluster

Dolores Straight Stem; Dolores Expanding Stem

Chaco Cluster

Chaco Corner Notched; Bonito Notched; Temporal; Pueblo Alto Side

Notched; Kin Kletso Side Notched

Western Triangular Cluster

Cottonwood Triangular; Bull Creek; Cohonina Triangular; Sobaipuri

Snaketown Cluster

Gila River Corner Notched; Salt River Indented Base; Snaketown

Triangular Straight Base; Snaketown Triangular Concave Base; Hodges

Contracting Stem

Pueblo Side Notched Cluster

Pueblo Side Notched; Ridge Ruin Side Notched; Point of Pines Side

Notched; Walnut Canyon Side Notched; Gatlin Side Notched; Citrus Side

Notched; Snaketown Side Notched; White Mountain Side Notched; Buck

Taylor Notched; Awotovi Side Notched

Appendix: Projectile Point Measurements

References Cited

Index