BIFURCATE POINTS
Early Archaic: 8,900 to 8,000 BP
DESCRIPTION: Because of their distinctive basal characteristice,
bifurcate forms were the first Early Archaic points noted in
Ontario (Noble 1975b). Since that time, numerous finds of these
points have been made, but with few exceptions remain under reported.
These finds include forms reminiscent of all types in the Southeast,
despite the fact that they have often been treated as synonymous
with the "Lecroy" point type.
Components of this horizon have been extensively investigated
in the southeastern USA, and a major diagnostic is the presence
of point forms with deeply notched bifurcated bases. Some of the
extreme variation is due to heavy reworking and resharpening.
However, others may reflect hafting design changes through time.
As many as four time-sequential bifurcate point types can be recognized
in the Southeast.
DISTRIBUTION: Various styles of bifurcate points have been
found throughout southern Ontario, but all are positively dated
as Early Archaic.
RAW MATERIAL: Bifurcate points are known to be made of
materials such as Kettle Point, Onondaga and Haldimand. Use of
certain outcrops of the latter two cherts has been documented
respectively at the Slack-Caswell (W.A. Fox) and Allan (R.Parker
1986a) sites. Interestingly enough, no exotic cherts such as those
from Ohio sources appear to have been used, as they were on earlier
components.
AGE AND CULTURE: Bifurcate points occur in the same stratigraphic
sequence at numerous sites and are firmly dated by C-14 to between
8900 and 8000 B.P. The earliest point forms such as such as the
St. Alban's type are corner-notched as well as bifurcated, indicating
continuity from the preceding horizon. Later types, such as LeCroy
and Kanahwa are stemmed, and begin a sequence of stemmed points
which continue into the later Middle Archaic.
REFERENCES: The GREEN BIBLE ////////////////////////////////.