ADDER ORCHARD POINTS
Late Archaic: 5,000 to 3,000 BP
DESCRIPTION: Adder Orchard points range in size from
41 to 78 mm in length, 19 to 38 mm in shoulder width, and 7 to
15 mm in thickness. Basal width is 15 to 24 mm, blade length 26
to 54mm, stem length 12 to 26 mm. These points have narrow lanceolate
blades and are distinctive by their excurvate blade shape. The
maximum width is usually well above the shoulder. Shoulders tend
to flare out slightly from the stem. Occasionaly these points
are marked by a slight spur which projects laterally from the
base. Stems are parallel sided to contracting in shape. Flaking
is usually well executed. Percussion flaking consists of wide,
expanding flake scars. Secondary or marginal retouching is used
where it is required to produce an even, sharp edge. Stems are
often lightly ground or rubbed, but not to the degree visible
on earlier Paleo and Archaic points.
DISTRIBUTION: Adder Orchard points are found in south western
Ontario, most notably from the Ausable Valley in the southeastern
Huron basin.
RAW MATERIAL: At the Adder Orchard site, points from Kettle
Point chert represent 58% of the collection. Onondaga chert shows
up in about one third of the specimins and only several points
were made from greywacke. (Kenyon 1983).
AGE AND CULTURE: Late Archaic. Similar points have been
found at the Pinegrove Cemetery in Michigan, which has C-14 dates
of 1,060 B.C. and 1,355 B.C. (Simons 1972). The C-14 date from
Adder Orchard of 1,900 B.C. was also considered acceptable. (Kenyon
1983). These points probably represent a distinct type related
to the "Christmas Tree" points of the Satchell complex
(Kenyon 1980). Adder Orchards are also similar to Springtown points
in Ohio, which have been mistakenly identified as being Plano
(Prufer and Baby 1963).
REFERENCES: London Chapter, Ontario Archaeological Society.
N. Ferris and I. Kenyon, 1987 Adder Orchard Points. KEWA 87-5.
J. A. Fisher, The Adder Orchard Site: Lithic Technology and Spatial
Organization in the Broadpoint Late Archaic. Occasional Publication
of the London Chapter, OAS, Number 3 1997.