VANPORT POINTS
Middle Woodland: 2,400 to 1,500 BP
DESCRIPTION: Vanport points range in size from 60 to
85 mm in length, 33 to 49 mm in width, and 5 to 8 mm in thickness.
Basal width is 17 to 28 mm. It should be understood that Vanport
points were often extensively reworked, thus altering some of
the aforementioned measurements. These points are identical in
form to the Manker Stemmed and corner-notched bifaces described
by Montet-White (1968). Manker bifaces were produced from ovate
preforms and the original lateral and basal edges were probably
slightly convex, while cross sections are lenticular. However,
since these points were likely used as knives, their edges were
constantly reworked. Original thinning flake scars on Vanport
preforms are broad and flat. Usually these broad flakes feathered
out to produce a relavely smooth, flat surface.
DISTRIBUTION: Vanport points occur regularly throughout
the Thames and north Lake Erie shore and eastward to the Niagara
Peninsula drainages. However, they bcome more sporatic in distribution
as one proceeds north along the Lake Huron shore.
RAW MATERIAL: All Vanport points were manufactured from
Flint Ridge chalcedony, usually of the cream to slightly bluish
colour variant. These large attractive bifaces were obviously
prized by by the local native groups who often did extensive resharpening
and reshaping of the lateral edges.
AGE AND CULTURE: Vanport points are morphologically related
to the Bayport and Dongola chert Norton coner-notched points described
by Griffin and Flanders (1970) which were recovered from mounds
C and H. There were three C-14 dates for the mounds suggesting
a date of A.D. to 200 A.D. for Vanport points. This is consistent
with Montet-White's assessment of age (1968). These points were
likely manufactured by Hopewellian peoples in Ohio and imported
by local Middle Woodland groups in southwestern Ontario in that
time period.
REFERENCES: London Chapter, Ontario Archaeological Society.
W. A. Fox , 1980 Vanport Points. KEWA 80-1.