INNES POINTS
Late Archaic to Early Woodland: 4000
to 3,000 BP
DESCRIPTION: Innes points range in size from 32 to 50
mm in length, 17 to 31 mm in width, and 5 to 8mm in thickness.
They can be described as mediun sized points with convex lateral
blade edges. They feature slightly sloping and slightly barbed
shoulders and an expanding stem base with a convex to straight
basal edge. In cross section lenticular forms are most common.
DISTRIBUTION: Innes points are among the numerous Archaic
forms which have received little attention in the literature.
As with many of the other styles, their lack of outstanding workmanship
inhibits their recognition among the more classic types. Aside
from the 40 points from the type site a few miles west of Brantford,
Ontario, other examples are reported from the Grand River drainage
and westward in southwestern Ontario. Examples from the Butterfield
site in Day County, Michigan (Wobst 1968) are also notable.
RAW MATERIAL: At the type site Onondaga chert is the predominant
material type used, though Kettle Point chert and jasper examples
were also noted. Innes points tend to be coarsely flaked, but
the primary shaping of the point rarely leaves and broad surfaces
unscared. Marginal secondary retouch is usually discontinuous,
being used primarily to remove edge sinuosity. One of the more
notable characteristics of this point style is their basal grinding,
which often extends up the lateral edges of the stem.
AGE AND CULTURE: Charcoal samples from the Innes type
site are presently being prepared for radiocarbon dating. A late
Archaic date circa 1,000 to 2,000 B.C. is expected. Innes points
exhibit formal similarities and probable temporal affinities to
Late Archaic Crawford Knoll points. With regard to these affinities,
Innes points are longer and slightly wider.
REFERENCES: London Chapter, Ontario Archaeological Society.
P. Lennox, 1982, Innes Points. KEWA 82-5.