Charl
Silver Member
This is an example of a point type with an extremely limited range of distribution. It derives its name because it occurs in abundance on Cape Cod, and not in abundance elsewhere in New England. No examples have been found north of Boston. It's known range is SE Ma., including the offshore islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. It does not seem to be known further west then Narragansett Bay, in RI. Almost always made of quartz. These two were both found at a site inland from the west side of Narragansett Bay.
Here is the description from Boudreau's recent expanded typology of New England point types:
"Cape Stemmed points(Mahlstedt 1986) were named for their occurance in assemblages from Cape Cod and the islands. Typically made of quartz, they are distinguished by broad side-notches, which produce a flared to knobbed base. This stem configuration is a trait of some Normanskill points. Their asymmetry, and wear, suggest that they are a form of knife or graver. At the Cairns Site, Cape Cod, a single Cape Stemmed is reported from Locus 10. Seven dates from that locus range from 2400+/-25 to 1490+/-35 BP". (Boudreau, p. 113)
This first one is rhyolite, a rare non-quartz example, and is classic with the broad side notches and knobbed base. For years, I could not type this odd point, until I obtained Boudreau's typology.
You can read about this type at the "Filling in the Gaps" article at this link:
https://vc.bridgew.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1143&context=bmas
Here is the description from Boudreau's recent expanded typology of New England point types:
"Cape Stemmed points(Mahlstedt 1986) were named for their occurance in assemblages from Cape Cod and the islands. Typically made of quartz, they are distinguished by broad side-notches, which produce a flared to knobbed base. This stem configuration is a trait of some Normanskill points. Their asymmetry, and wear, suggest that they are a form of knife or graver. At the Cairns Site, Cape Cod, a single Cape Stemmed is reported from Locus 10. Seven dates from that locus range from 2400+/-25 to 1490+/-35 BP". (Boudreau, p. 113)
This first one is rhyolite, a rare non-quartz example, and is classic with the broad side notches and knobbed base. For years, I could not type this odd point, until I obtained Boudreau's typology.
You can read about this type at the "Filling in the Gaps" article at this link:
https://vc.bridgew.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1143&context=bmas
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