Arrowhead type

Mabin Point

MabinDickson Contracting Stem Cluster3,500 - 1,900 B.P.Late Archaic to Early Woodland

9 reference photos

Key facts

Age
3,500 - 1,900 B.P.
Cultural period
Late Archaic to Early Woodland
Size
Medium to Large
Shape
Contracting Stem to Straight Stem
Glacial period
Neoglacial to Medieval Warm

More from the Archaic, Woodland periods

Description

This triangular point exhibits a medium to large size profile, characterized by a contracting stem and an elliptical cross-sectional shape. The blade edge displays variability, ranging from a straight alignment to a gently outward-curving, excurvate shape. The shoulder morphology is also diverse, spanning from subtly barbed to nearly horizontal configurations. The stem tapers inward, terminating in a straight base. The flaking pattern observed on this point is random, lacking a discernible, organized arrangement.

Size

The dimensions of the arrowheads are as follows: they range in length from 27 to 67 mm, with a mean length of 55 mm. In terms of width, they measure between 15 and 23 mm, averaging 18 mm. The thickness of the arrowheads varies from 4 to 11 mm, with an average thickness of 8 mm.

Distribution

These artifacts are scattered throughout the central to southern Mississippi River Valley, with the greatest densities located in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas

Also found, less often, in

Additional information

In the realm of Native American arrowheads, a distinct type has been identified, characterized by a slender blade that tapers into a contracting stem, ultimately giving way to a straight base. This particular variation is categorized within the Gary classification system as Class A. Notably, this style of arrowhead is marked by its narrow, elongated blade, which suggests a high degree of precision and craftsmanship in its creation. The contracting stem, a hallmark of this type, serves to distinguish it from other arrowhead forms, while the straight base provides a stable platform for hafting. As a result, this arrowhead type offers valuable insights into the technological and cultural practices of the Native American groups that created it, highlighting their resourcefulness and adaptability in tool manufacture.

Identified by

Named by
Alan Toth
Year
1979

Similar types

Types that are easy to confuse with the Mabin point.

Other types in the Dickson Contracting Stem Cluster

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