HOLCOMBE FLUTED POINTS

Paleo-Indian: 10,000 to 9,500 BP

DESCRIPTION: The Holcombe point ranges in size from 34 to 68 mm in length, 16 to 26 mm in width, and 3 to 7 mm in thickness. Basal thinning length is 4 to 29 mm and concavity depth ranges from 4 to 6 mm. Like the Crowfield points described elsewhere, these points display maximum width at or above their mid-point. Their basal concavitied have small ears, but lack fishtails. However, unlike Crowfield points, the Holcombes never exhibit shoulders along their lateral edges, or the extreme edge expansion from the base. Holcombe points frequently have plano-convex cross sections, and are narrower and more elongated in appearance, and are never pentagonal in outline shape, but have smooth convex lateral edges. Surface flaking consists of shallow, nattow, parallel to collateral, unpatterned retouch which does not consistently terminate at the mid-line. A short, abrupt, unifacial retouch is applied to shape the basal concavity and often to round off the basal corner. The base was thinned by short, often multiple, contracting to parallel sided to expanding flake removals. The lower lateral edges and basal concavity are lightly ground.



DISTRIBUTION: This point type definitely occurs in southern Ontario and Michigan, as well as northern Ohio and northern Pennsylvania and western New York.

RAW MATERIAL: Holcombe points have been recovered made from Onondaga, Bayport, Tenmile Creek, Upper Mercer and Kettle Point cherts.

AGE AND CULTURE: There are no C-14 datings available for Holcombe points but they reflect a dating of from 10,400 to 10,000 B.P. It is thought that at that time the area was spruce and open land, and these early hunters relied on barren-ground caribou herds, among other animals.

REFERENCES: London Chapter, Ontario Archaeological Society. Chris Ellis, 1987 Holcombe Points. KEWA 87-7. Perino, 1971, pp. 54-55. Justice, 1995, pp. 20, 24. Tully, 1998, p.86. Overstreet, 2003, pp. 130.