Read Ebook: Excavations at the LoDaisKa Site in the Denver Colorado area by Irwin H T Henry Thomas Johnson Irwin Williams Cynthia Galinat Walton C Contributor Hunt Charles B Charles Butler Contributor Lewis G Edward George Edward Contributor Rodden Robert J Contributor Whitehead Donald R Donald Reed Contributor Wormington H M Hann

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We have divided projectile points into 16 categories, 8 major ones. This is primarily for convenience; secondly because some categories probably do represent cultural types; and thirdly because there are morphological ranges which may be described briefly in terms of a basic pattern. We believe with Cressman that some form existed in the minds of their makers and that a certain amount of variation is consistent within a type. It is worth noting the testimony of certain Ute informants who claimed that each tribe made its own recognizable form of point.

PROJECTILE POINTS: CLASSIFICATION

Dart Points

A Blade wide, leaf-shaped, edge usually convex, stem straight or contracting, leaving pronounced shoulder, no barb, base concave. Largest 1 1/2 34? x ??/?? inches, smallest 7/8 x ?/?? inches, .

A1 Blade wide, leaf-shaped, edge convex, stem expanding, shoulder, no barb, concave base. Two specimens, 3/4 x 1/2 , 1? x 1/2 inches, .

A2 Blade triangular, straight edge, lateral barb, stem straight--slightly contracting, base deeply concave. Two specimens, 7/8 x 5/8 , 1 1/4 x 7/8 inches, .

B Blade leaf-shaped, edges convex, stem contracting but no shoulder, base concave. Largest 1 1/2 ? x 5/8 , smallest 1? x 1/2 inches, .

C Blade triangular, edge straight or slightly convex, all serrated, pronouncedly expanding base as wide or wider than blade giving the impression of high corner notches, definite barb rare. Largest 1 3/8 x 5/8 , smallest 7/8 ? x 5/8 inches, .

C1 Blade triangular, two specimens straight sides, one shouldered, all deeply serrated, two concave based, one straight. Three specimens, 1 1/2 ? x 3/4 , 1 1/4 x 1/2 , 2? x 3/4 inches, .

D Blade triangular, length three to four times the width, edge sinuous: tapering from barb to center, expanding toward point, then tapering off; stem expanding, narrower than blade, base concave or straight. Largest 2 1/4 ? x 7/8 , smallest 1 1/2 x 3/4 inches, .

E Blade triangular to leaf-shaped, edges straight or convex, shallow to deep side notches, base concave or convex, expanding or contracting. Largest 1 3/4 ? x 3/4 , smallest 3/4 x 1/2 inches, .

F Blade triangular to leaf-shaped, straight to curving edges, stem nearly as wide as blade, giving almost the appearance of side-notching, base straight to slightly convex, two specimens serrated. Largest 1 7/8 x 3/4 , smallest 1 1/4 x 3/4 inches, .

G Blade triangular, edge concave, stem narrow, straight or slightly expanding and rather small, barbs projecting to level of base giving impression of double basal notch, base convex. Largest 1 x 1, smallest 7/8 x 3/4 inches, .

H Blade triangular to leaf-shaped, rounded shoulders, stem narrower than blade, base rounded, serrated. Largest 1 1/2 x 1/2 , smallest 7/8 x 1/2 inches, .

I Blade triangular, curving edges, stem narrower than blade, expanding, giving the appearance of corner notching, barbs straight, distinct, base convex. Largest 1 1/2 ? x 1, smallest 3/4 x 5/8 inches, .

J Blade triangular to leaf-shaped, edges straight or slightly convex, four serrated, base expanding, corner-notched, barb pronounced, base straight or convex. Largest 1 1/4 x 7/8 , smallest 1 x 5/8 inches, .

K Blade triangular, sides straight or slightly convex, distinct down-curving barbs, base expanding narrower than blade, gives appearance of corner notching, base straight or slightly concave, four serrated. Largest 2 x 1, smallest 7/8 x ?/?? inches, .

L Two specimens of quartzite, both shown in Fig. 25. Blade leaf-shaped, indented bases, oblique parallel flaking, edges ground on first specimen in Fig. 23 about one inch up from base. The second specimen also has ground edges.

Arrow Points

aa Blade triangular, corner-notched, length 1 1/4 times the width, base generally convex, expanding, often just slightly narrower than blade. Largest 1 1/8 x 1/2 , smallest 5/8 x 1/2 inches. Points of this type are generally much lighter and thinner than those above, .

bb Blade triangular, edges either convex or concave, specimen's length generally twice width, almost all serrated, stems usually straight, generally 1/2 width or less. Largest 1 x 1/2 , smallest 3/4 x 5/8 inches. A variation of this type is less long in relation to width, but has its base located a-centrally. Careful examination reveals no differential of wear on the sides such as would be expected if they were used as knives. .

cc These points are located morphologically between types aa and bb and do not fit into either category. Largest 1 1/4 x 3/8 , smallest 5/8 x 1/2 inches, .

Other Projectile Points

x A blunt point, large expanding base, shoulders pronounced, blade semi-ellipse shaped. One point 1 x 7/8 inches, .

xx Four specimens, located stratigraphically in pre-pottery levels. All are flake points, rather small and light, in general fit into category H. Largest 1 x 1/2 , smallest 3/4 x 5/8 inches. These may have been children's toys? .

A "grainy" quartzite was used for 85 percent of the dart points. For the arrow points, the preference was not as marked, for it constituted only 55 percent of the total. The remainder were of crypto-crystalline or "flinty" quartz.

Knives

There are four types of knives or bifacially worked cutting implements. All are relatively thin, less than 1/4 inch thick, and flaked on both sides, often with broad shallow chipping. The first type consists of small ovoid bifaces. The largest of these measures 2 1/4 x 1 inch, the smallest 7/8 x 5/8 inches with most being about 1 x 3/4 inches. The majority resemble Fig. 28, being slightly asymmetrical although some are more triangular. They were probably used as small knives, possibly hafted. Since the point is usually off-center, and they are generally thick in relation to their size, they do not appear to be projectile point blanks, though a few of the finest may have been. They are usually of a crypto-crystalline quartz. One is of obsidian. There is a total of 41 pieces.

TABLE I

PROJECTILE POINT PROVENIENCE

There are 25 specimens of the second type. These are characterized by an asymmetrical triangular form, usually with one gently curving side, a second more rounded side, and straight or slightly rounded base . In general they show flat broad flakes at right angles to the edges with short retouch flakes and usage scars all around. The largest is 3 3/4 inches long, and two inches wide, and is made of obsidian . Another example is 3 3/4 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide . The smallest is 1 3/4 x 1 inch.

The third group includes 14 examples. The construction of these is similar to group two, but they are generally thicker, more symmetrical and usually longer and narrower. The largest is 2 1/2 x 1, the smallest 1 1/2 x 3/4 .

There are in addition 15 broken pieces belonging to one or the other of the last two categories.

Eleven pieces were classified as flake knives. These are characterized by manufacture on a flake, with flaking on both faces but only along one edge. Shape is variable, but the cutting edge is generally curved. Largest, 2 x 1 3/4 inches, smallest 1 1/2 x 1 inch.

One large stemmed artifact with straight sides and a blunt point is felt to have been a hafted knife. The base is broken. Estimated length, 2 inches, width 1 1/3 inches. The material is quartzite.

For all the categories of cutting implements, approximately 70 percent were made of flinty or crypto-crystalline quartz; a rather large number were of fossilized wood, not commonly used for other artifacts.

SCRAPERS

End Scrapers

The end scrapers are divisible into three categories. The first form is a flat scraper, generally triangular to oval in outline. The working end is often thin. There are a few true snub-nosed scrapers in this category. The second type is generally fan-shaped with a wide thin bit. The opposite end usually tapers to a sharp edge which could have had secondary use as a cutting tool. The third variety includes rougher forms, though there are a few well made specimens. All have a distinct keel. There are 31 of the first type, the smallest 1/2 x ?/??; the largest 1 1/4 x 1 1/2 inches. Of the second group there are 17 specimens, the smallest 1 1/4 x 3/4 ; the largest 1 1/2 x 1 1/4 inches. There are 10 of the third form, the smallest 1 inch square, the largest 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 inches. Seventy percent of the scrapers are of crypto-crystalline quartz.

Side Scrapers

Twenty-three specimens are classified as side scrapers. In general, as with discoidal scrapers, it is hard to draw a line between these and utilized flakes. An arbitrary division was made because, when the material was laid out, some specimens consistently showed more regular work or flaking than others. The largest of these is 2 1/2 x 1 inch, the smallest 1 1/4 x 1 inch. In general, they are long flakes with considerable flat flaking and/or retouch along one face, usually on only one edge. Quartzite and crypto-crystalline quartz were about equally popular.

Discoidal Scrapers

Twenty-five artifacts are classified as discoidal scrapers. Again, as noted in the case of side scrapers, the dividing line between some of these and certain utilized flakes is somewhat arbitrary. Generally these artifacts are steeply flaked, by percussion, on both faces and all edges, giving them a rather rounded appearance. The largest is 2 1/2 x 2 1/4 inches, the smallest 3/4 x 1 1/2 inch. Quartzite and flinty materials show about equal usage.

Serrated Scrapers

There are 21 serrated scrapers. These are usually serrated on one edge only, but other sides often show secondary usage. The serrations appear to have been made in the course of the primary flaking, by blows dealt at intervals, with the remaining protrusions left instead of being chipped off. Some with steep sides would have been useful as scrapers, but several small thin specimens could have been used as saws. Flinty materials were preferred. The largest is 2 x 1 1/4 , the smallest 1 x 3/4 inches. From the ethnographic data it is interesting to note that the Ute used serrated scrapers for taking the hair off hides.

"Uncompahgre" Scrapers

Six complete and one broken artifact are included in this category. They conform in general to Wormington and Lister's description of those found at the type locality. Those at LoDaisKa are smaller. Specifically they are flakes, usually triangular, although one is rectangular. One edge is flaked on one face alone, one or more edges are flaked on both faces. The butt, generally the striking platform of the flake, is usually unflaked and thick. They appear to have been serviceable without hafting, and are probably a multiple purpose tool, possibly with a specific combination of uses. The largest is 2 x 1 3/4 inches; the smallest, 1 1/4 x 7/8 inches. All but one are quartzite.

Hafted Scrapers

One artifact was found that could be described as a hafted scraper. It is 1 x 1 1/4 inches, with a semicircular working bit, straight barbs, expanding stem, narrower than a blade, and a rounded base. It could have been made from a type H projectile point.

Spoke-shaves

Two artifacts are designated spoke-shaves. One is combined with a perforator; the other is made from a large flake. Both exhibit simple steep flaking. The working surfaces are arcs of about 100? on small circles, 1/2 inch in diameter.

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