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Indiana University

Stone Age Spear and Arrow Points of California and the Great Basin

Stone Age Spear and Arrow Points of California and the Great Basin

Noel D. Justice
Distribution: World
Publication date: 5/2/2002
File Format: PDF (About e-Books)
ISBN: 978-0-253-10883-8
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Description

Noel Justice adds another regional guide to his series of important reference works that survey, describe, and categorize the projectile point and cutting tools used in prehistory by Native American peoples. This volume addresses the region of California and the Great Basin. Written for archaeologists and amateur collectors alike, the book describes over 50 types of stone arrowhead and spear points according to period, culture, and region. With the knowledge of someone trained to fashion projectile points with techniques used by the Indians, Justice describes how the points were made, used, and re-sharpened. His detailed drawings illustrate the way the Indians shaped their tools, what styles were peculiar to which regions, and how the various types can best be identified. There are hundreds of drawings, organized by type cluster and other identifying characteristics. The book also includes distribution maps and color plates that will further aid the researcher or collector in identifying specific periods, cultures, and projectile types.

Author Bio

Noel D. Justice, Assistant Director and Curator of Collections of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology at Indiana University, is author of Stone Age Spear and Arrow Points of the Midcontinental and Eastern United States (Indiana University Press).

Reviews

"This title has been reviewed jointly with Stone Age spear and arrow points of the Southwestern United States, by Noel D. Justice. Justice's two volumes continue the format of his 1988 survey and compilation of projectile points recovered from the midcontinental and eastern US. Together, they provide detailed information about 52 point types known from excavation and surface collection in the Southwest, the Great Basin, and California. Each distinctive form is first defined by shape and unique aspects of flaking and base shape, then by its first known occurrence in the archaeological record. Age and cultural affiliation and geographical distribution are presented, with frequent citations to the detailed bibliography at the end of each volume. The volumes begin with a series of high-quality color plates illustrating type specimens of each cluster, followed by an identification key. Introductory essays set forth each book's organization, present issues relating to the illustration, photography, and metrical classification of projectile points, discuss raw materials and technologies used in manufacture, and evaluate evidence for a possible pre-Clovis occupation horizon in North America. Written for both general readers and practicing archaeologists, these works belong in all college, university, field laboratory, and museum libraries supporting courses and research in North American archaeology." —R. B. M. Ridinger, Northern Illinois University, Choice , December 2002

". . . more than a point guide . . . [it] provides a tremendous amount of introductory information on many aspects of archaeology. . . .Justice had made a most worthwhile contribution to the archaeological community." —
Newsletter of the South Dakota Archaeology Society

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Table of Contents

Preliminary :

List of Figures
List of Color Plates
List of Maps
Acknowledgments
Projectile Point Identification Key
Introduction

Projectile Point Types and Type Clusters: The Organizational Concept for the Book; Illustration and Photography of Projectile Points; Metrical Classification of Projectile Points; Projectile Point Manufacture; Weapon Technology and Use; The Earliest Americans: Is There a
Pre-Clovis Occupation?

Projectile Point Type Descriptions
Clovis Cluster

Clovis
Lanceolate Plano Cluster

Black Rock Concave Base
Great Basin Stemmed Cluster

Lake Mojave

Silver Lake
Borax Lake Cluster

Borax Lake Widestem

Stanislaus Broad Stem
Crescent Cluster

Lunate Crescent

Winged Crescent

Eccentric Crescent
Pinto Cluster

Pinto

Gatecliff Split Stem
Humboldt Cluster

Humboldt

Buchanan Eared

Mendocino Concave Base
Northern Side Notched Cluster

Northern Side Notched

Sudden Side Notched
Pacific Coast Side Notched Cluster

Jalama Side Notched

Diablo Canyon Side Notched

Albion Head Side Notched
Big Valley Cluster

Big Valley Stemmed

Kelsey Creek Barbed

Cache Creek Corner Notched

Mayacmas Corner Notched
Rossi Cluster

Rossi Straight Stem

Rossi Expanding Stem
Martis Cluster

Martis Corner Notched

Foresthill Notched

Tuolumne Notched

Hot Creek Stemmed
Willits Cluster

Willits Side Notched
McGillivray Cluster

McGillivray Expanding Stem
Coastal Contracting Stemmed Cluster

Vandenburg Contracting Stem

Channel Islands Barbed

Houx Contracting Stem

Excelsior
Sierra Contracting Stem Cluster

Sierra Contracting Stem

Steamboat Lanceolate

Yosemite Contracting Stem

Norden Basal Notched
Gypsum Cluster

Gypsum
Elko Cluster

Elko Eared

Elko Corner Notched
Rosegate Cluster

Rose Spring Corner Notched

Eastgate Expanding Stem

Parowan Basal Notched
Need Cluster

Need Stemmed Lanceolate
Alamo Cluster

Alamo Stemmed
Contra Costa Cluster

Contra Costa Notched
Stockton Cluster

Stockton Parallel Stem

Stockton Notched Leaf

Stockton Corner Notched

Stockton Expanded Stem

Stockton Curve
Malaga Cove Cluster

Malaga Cove
Western Triangular Cluster

Cottonwood

Bull Creek

Canalio

Price Ranch Triangular
Desert Side Notched Cluster

Desert Side Notched

Sierra Side Notched

Delta Side Notched

Redding Side Notched

Bear River Side Notched

Panoche Side Notched
Rattlesnake Cluster

Rattlesnake Corner Notched

Clear Lake Corner Notched

Round Valley Corner Notched
Gunther Cluster

Gunther Barbed

Appendix: Table of Measurements
References Cited
Index