Got Meadowood?

[theviking]

Opened a frame today to try and find room for the Quartzite Meadowood and thought I would take a group shot. The first piece is from Fulton co. Ohio, a gift. The last one was my first creek find. Two of these seem to be resharpened Knifes, mostly the Quartzite piece. Maybe the Meadowood types are all knifes, like the big Savannah River blades. Thanks for looking.H.H.

 

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[monsterrack]

Nice points

 

[unclemac]

show us the third one better....that flaking is unreal!

 

[theviking]

hey Thanks, Monsterrack, and thanks Unclemac, here are a few more pics of the Ohio piece. I think the material is Coshocton flint.

 

[unclemac]

nice, thanks!

 

[rock]

Got some good looking ones. Frame worthy

 

[Charl]

The key feature of Early Woodland Meadowood points is very shallow, and very narrow, side notches, set very low on the blade. The bases can be straight or convex. Convex bases often show use as scrapers as well. Once the notches are wider, and higher on the blade, chances are it's not a Meadowood. Here in the Northeast, Normanskill points, side notched and often showing slightly convex bases, can be confused with the type. I'm including the page from William Ritchie's NY typology to best illustrate the key features according to his description. The second link has many classic Onondaga chert examples. Classic examples of Meadowoods are really a very distinctive point style.

New York State Museum - Projectile Point Type Collection

New York State Museum - Projectile Point Type Collection

In the following photos, the first shows three very typical examples, one jasper, two Onondaga chert, by far the preferred material in NY and New England. Notice How low on the blade the notches are, and these RI examples display the convex bases. And look how very slight the notches are in the smallest example in the first photo. Very common for the notches to be that slight, barely discernible. Second photo from Ma. Third photo, Pa on left, and Onondaga chert example from RI. Last photo is a Normanskill point I confused with a Meadowood when I found it. Once the side notches become more prominent and wider, it becomes questionable if the point is actually a Meadowood. I'm not sure all the points in this thread are actually Meadowoods for that reason but the big Ohio piece looks classic though, JMHO. And the last one here in my post is not a Meadowood, but a much older Normanskill. I think in Vikings first photo, the first is a Meadowood, and the last one on the right is a likelihood, but I don't believe the two points in the middle are Meadowoods. Love the semi translucent point, but it isn't a Meadowood, IMHO. But great stuff, especially that big Ohio example. Viking, I think if I found the greenish one here in New England, it would be classed as a Normanskill. I would likely say the same for the quartzite point, but don't know if Normanskills are found in your region, and at any rate, there are so many side notched points in general. It's a beauty.

 

[theviking]

Thanks for the info and pics, Charl. Judging by some of the VA and MD I.D. sites available online they seem to include some variations with wider notches Higher on the blade, best shown in the first and last pieces on the top row in the link, I agree they do not look like classic examples. I respect your opinion and appreciate you taking the time to respond, I believe I will call the two in the middle unknown side notch blades, possibly woodland. Thanks again. Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland

http://www.jefpat.org/diagnostic/Ma...ages/FindingAids/EarlyWoodland/meadowood.html

 

[Charl]

Thanks for the info and pics, Charl. Judging by some of the VA and MD I.D. sites available online they seem to include some variations with wider notches Higher on the blade, best shown in the first and last pieces on the top row in the link, I agree they do not look like classic examples. I respect your opinion and appreciate you taking the time to respond, I believe I will call the two in the middle unknown side notch blades, possibly woodland. Thanks again. Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland

Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland

Yeah, there are always examples that are judgement calls. They didn't use cookie cutters or blueprints after all. Typology is no breeze for most folks, and it shouldn't be. Same points called by different names across state and regional lines(example: a Snook Kill Pt. in Ct. Is an Atlantic Point right next door in RI and southeastern Ma.), resharpened one style starts to look like a different style, etc. The example from Pa. In my photos has a wider notch then average. It's when you get a broad side notch that you've left the Meadowood group entirely. The Md. Guide is a good one.

 

[theviking]

Thanks again , Charl. Considering they seem to be rare in VA, I'm glad to have at least one that fits the proper description. I think I am getting over the need to type every near complete point, or knife. Just having an idea of age and use is more than I thought I would figure out about many of my finds.

 

[curious kat]

Those are Very nice large points!