Chapter 2

Fig. 7. Incised Sherds. A-L,Dunkin Incised(note C, a large sherd with typical design; punctations with lines on E, F, L: rectangular design on I). M, N,Harrison Bayou Incised. O-R, Diagonally incised rim sherds, probablyDunkin Incised.

Pennington Punctated-Incisedtype is represented by 36 sherds (Fig. 8, A-F). Most of these derive from open carinated bowls with excurvate rims which are 4 to 7 cm. in height, but a few seem to be rims of recurved jars. Eight are chocolate brown in color, others tan, gray and brown-black. The paste is firm, hard in all but two sherds, with smoothed but not polished surfaces. Two sherds are tempered with bone, the others with clay-grit or sherd. Wall thickness is in the range of 5 to 9 mm., most specimens being 6 to 7 mm. The punctations are consistently placed in fields which are outlined by single deeply incised lines; the fields are in diagonal bands, diamonds or triangles. The punctations and incised lines are bold and the 36 sherds include punctations made with a pointed or round-tipped tool in 23 instances, comma-shaped in four, square (Fig. 8, E) in five, and triangular in four.

Eleven sherds show the hybridPennington-Crockettdesign described in the Davis report (Newell and Krieger, 1949: 101). Shapes and paste characteristics are described above; two sherds are soft, chocolate brown in color. One has an incurving rim and a suspension hole (Fig. 8, I). The bordering incised line is curved (Fig. 8, G-I); otherwise these sherds do not differ from thePenningtontype. Seven have rounded punctations, two are comma-shaped, one rectangular, and one square.

Another group of 19 sherds showszone punctationswhich differ in certain respects from the typicalPenningtondescribed above and possibly are nearer toRhinehart Punctated(Ford, 1951: 83-85). These 19 sherds (Fig. 8, J-O) have the same range of paste and coloration; five are of the softer chocolate brown ware. Rim and body sherds are represented and in only one instance (Fig. 8, O) is it certain that the rim is from an open carinated bowl as are thePenningtonsherds. One heavy sherd (Fig. 8, J) which is 12 mm. thick, suggests a globular vessel which narrows at the neck and recurves to upright at the rim. Another sherd includes the lower rim area which is decorated with zoned punctations and incisions, and the adjoining upper body which is plain. Characteristic of this group is the alternation of punctated and incised fields, or the outlining of punctated zones by multiple incised lines. The punctations are triangular in three instances, square in one, comma-shaped in six, round or oval in five, small pits in three, and crescentic in one.

Fig. 8. Punctated Sherds. A-F,Pennington Punctated-Incised. G-I,Pennington-Crocketthybrid (I has incurving rim, hole for suspension). J-O,PenningtonorRhinehart Punctated(N has triangular punctations between horizontal lines in Coles Creek tradition). P, Similar toDupree Incisedbut shape suggestsBossiersherd. Q, R, Random punctations.

Free punctationsmade with tools, without zoning or incising, are present on one vessel (Fig. 4, I) and 19 sherds (Fig. 8, Q, R). Paste and color are as described above; one is bone tempered, six are soft, chocolate brown in color. Rim and body sherds are represented but shapes of vessels are uncertain. The punctations are triangular in seven instances, comma-shaped in three, square in five, round in three, and crescentic in two. The vessel (V-105) is a semiglobular bowl with plain body and scalloped, everted rim. The lower surface of the rim is covered with free punctations. The relative increase in frequency of triangular punctations in this group is significant, in view of the fact that theRhinehart Punctatedtype in central Louisiana features triangular punctations (Ford, 1951: 83), whereas they are infrequent inPennington Punctated-Incisedat the Davis Site (Newell and Krieger, 1949: 106-8). The absence of ring punctations at Smithport is remarkable, in view of their frequency at both the Davis Site and in central Louisiana.

A group of six sherds has minutefreeorzoned punctations. The sherds are thinner walled than average, 4 to 6 mm., and five of the six have black surfaces and soft pastes. The sixth is buff colored, thin and has a strongly excurvate, narrow rim. Another (Fig. 8, P) is from an open carinated bowl and has notches along the carina. All of this group may relate to the Bossier ceramics at this site, instead of Alto. They bear some similarity toDupree Incisedof Plaquemine ceramics in central Louisiana (Quimby, 1951: 122-3).

Weches Fingernail Impressed(Suhm and Jelks, 1962: 153, Pl. 77; Newell and Krieger, 1949: 118-20, Fig. 46) is represented by 19 sherds of characteristic design (Fig. 9, A-E). Nine of these include the lip area, but all appear to be rim sherds. In three instances some of the subjacent body wall is attached; on two of these the body is plain, on the third (Fig. 9, E) the body has diagonal incised lines suggestingDunkin-like decoration. These three have globular bodies and outward curving or slanting rims, 4 to 4.5 cm. high. Other vessels seem to be cylindrical with vertical rims, and open carinated bowls are possible. Five of the 19 sherds are chocolate brown in color with clay tempered paste; the others range from tan and buff to dark gray and reddish-brown. Wall thickness is in the range of 4 to 9 mm., the majority 5-7 mm. Typically, the decoration (Fig. 9, A, B, D, E) is with widely spaced horizontal incised lines with arcs or quarter circles between; the arcs could have been cut with the fingernail and occasionally are fingernail impressed, but in most the arc is too large, 1.8 to 4 cm. (my thumbnail is 1.6 cm. wide). Four of the sherds have the arcs without intervening lines (Fig. 9, C).

Fig. 9. Nail Impressed and Punctated Sherds. A-E,Weches Fingernail Impressed. F,WechesVariant with tool punctations. G, H,Sinner Linear Punctated. I-K, M-P,Wilkinson Punctated. L, Ridge pinched, similar toKillough Pinched. Q,Wilkinson Punctatedbody,Kiam Incisedrim. R, S, U, Narrow bands with round or oval punctations. T, Single row of semilunar punctations.

Four sherds are identical with this group except that the spaces between the horizontal lines have triangular instead of semilunar punctations (Fig. 9, F). Seven other sherds have round or oval punctations in single rows between incised lines (Fig. 9, R, S, U). I have not included these with typePennington Punctated-Incised, as Krieger did with some reservation (Newell and Krieger, 1949: 106). Neither have I assigned them toColes Creek Incised,Hardy IncisedorRhinehart Punctated, as Ford did, also probably with some reservation (Ford, 1951: Pls. 16, L; 17, 20, H), but have preferred to describe them separately as interesting examples of regional variations and typing difficulties in eastern Texas, and northern and central Louisiana.

One sherd (Fig. 9, T) has a single row of semilunar punctations and otherwise plain surface. It is thick, clay-grit tempered, and buff colored.

Wilkinson Fingernail Punctatedtype is represented by one vessel and 153 sherds. This was described as a minor type in central Louisiana (Ford and Willey, 1940: 50; Ford, 1951: 88-89) to include clay tempered vessels with fingernail punctations scattered over the vessel surface, arranged in irregular rows, or pinched in vertical rows. In that area it is rarely combined with incising and usually covers the entire vessel. Ford (1951: 88) thought it occurred at the latter part of the Coles Creek period and reached maximum popularity in the succeeding Plaquemine Period or later, but it was missing in Plaquemine context at Bayou Goula (Quimby, 1957) and Medora (Quimby, 1951) sites. In the Davis Site report (Newell and Krieger, 1949) it was not established as a type, as Krieger considered fingernail punctations to be a body treatment present in several types (Kiam,Weches,Dunkin, andDuren Neck Banded); he reported 20,000 body sherds with fingernail roughening from a total of 96,000 sherds. The difference in attitudetoward this type on the part of these investigators is understandable when we consider the differences in frequency and use of the decoration method in the two areas, also that Ford and his co-workers used all sherds in typing, whereas Krieger translated sherds to vessels and used rim decoration as the determinant.

In northwestern Louisiana I have foundWilkinson Punctateda useful type insherd collectionstudies because of its great frequency in Alto wares, its rarity in Coles Creek, and the rapid shift from nail roughening to ridging and brushing as body treatments concurrent with the development of Bossier, Belcher, and other later Caddoan ceramics.Wilkinson Punctatedis therefore a good indicator of early (Alto) Caddoan occupation at a given site. At Smithport Landing there were 153 sherds (Fig. 9, I-K, M-P) and one burial vessel, a pinched toy jar (Fig. 4, Q), of this type. The vessel is 6 cm. high, 5 cm. wide, made of thick clay-tempered paste, roughly finished and decorated with three horizontal rows of nail pinching. The sherds include only four rims (Fig. 9, I, O, P), showing how rarely this decoration, in northern Louisiana, covers the vessel. Most of the other sherds are recognizably body sherds, and in eight instances (as inFig. 9, Q) the body-rim juncture is present. The latter sherds haveKiam Inciseddecoration on the rim and appear to have come from a modified globular body shape with directly or mildly everted rim. Nine of the 153 sherds are bone tempered, the remainder are clay-grit or ground sherd, rather granular and coarse. The walls are thick in many instances, the range 4 to 10 mm. with the majority 7 to 8 mm. Many of the sherds are large (Fig. 9, I, J) indicating large, heavy jar forms. Surface colors range from tan and buff to dark grays and a few reddish-browns, with more tendency to darker colors than in other types. The majority have irregular fingernail gouges (Fig. 9, I, J), but some are pinched (Fig. 9, K, M, N) and others impressed more delicately and regularly (Fig. 9, O-Q).

Eight sherds have distinctly pinched-up ridges (Fig. 9, L) which are circular or curvilinear in six instances, vertical in two. The burial vessel (Fig. 4, Q) may belong with this group, although it has been tentatively classed asWilkinson Punctated. The group with pinched ridges bears considerable resemblance to the typeKillough Pinched(Suhm and Jelks, 1962: 91, Pl. 46) of Frankston and Titus foci, but, in the absence of other types characteristic of these assemblages, will not be so assigned.

Sinner Linear Punctatedis a type which so far has been confined to Bossier and Haley foci (Suhm and Jelks, 1962: 143; Webb, 1948: 114)and the four sherds of this type from the Smithport Landing, although similar in paste, thickness and color to the Alto sherds, are probably referable to the subsequent (presumably) Bossier period at this site. Two are rim sherds; one of these (Fig. 9, G) has parallel, vertical linear punctating; another (Fig. 9, H) and a body sherd have horizontal lines; the fourth is uncertain. All have linear nail punctating and the more typical linear tool punctating is absent.

One sherd ofChevalier Stampedis small (3 × 2 cm.) but has definite rocker stamping. It is of firm paste, tan exterior surface color with a black fire cloud at one edge, and black interior. Paste is homogeneous clay-grit with several bone fragments (accidental?); both surfaces are smoothed but not polished. In general appearance it resembles many of the Alto sherds from this site.

The eleven sherds ofBelcher Ridgedtype (Fig. 10, G, H) are generally thinner and darker than the Alto wares. Six are dark chocolate to black on both surfaces and through the cores; the other five have light buff to dark gray surfaces, four of these with black cores. One is bone tempered, all others clay-grit. No rims are represented and the body sherds are 3 to 5 mm. in wall thickness. Typically, the elevated ridges are vertical.

There are 38 sherds of thePease Brushed-Incisedtype (Fig. 10, A-F). The paste is smooth, clay-grit tempered except for one bone tempered; interiors are smoothed, exteriors roughened all over with the decoration. The color range is about as for other types; eight sherds are chocolate brown to black and slightly soft. Thickness is 4-5 mm. in 13 of the 38 sherds, 5 to 9 mm. in the remainder. The vertical panels characteristic of this type are separated by notched applique ridges in 28 (Fig. 10, B, D-F), by rows of tool or nail punctations in seven (Fig. 10, A), and by applique nodes in three (Fig. 10, C). The panels are roughened by diagonal incisions in 24 instances (Fig. 10, A, C), by vertical incising in 10 (Fig. 10, E, F), by horizontal incising in one, and by brushing in three (Fig. 10, B, D).

Fig. 10. Brushed, Ridged, and Late Wares. A-F,Pease Brushed-Incised(note panel separation by punctations onA, applique notched ridges onB,D-F, and applique nodes onC). G, H,Belcher Ridged. I-K, MBossierorPlaquemine Brushed. L,Karnack Brushed-Incised(note rolled rim, rare). N-S, Late Glendora Focus sherds (N,S, shell tempered, incised;O,P, engraved, untyped;Q, linear punctated, untyped;R,Hodges Engraved).

Karnack Brushed-Incisedtype (Suhm and Jelks, 1962: 85) is applied to barrel-shaped vessels with everted rims, decorated with vertical incising or brushing. Thirty-four sherds from Smithport fit this category, although it is possible that some of the vertically incised body sherds derive fromKiam IncisedorWeches Fingernail Impressedvessels. There are only three rim sherds, one rolled (Fig. 10, L), the other two everted. The paste, temper, color range, and wall thickness are no different from other types; seven of the sherds are dark chocolate brown in color. Only six sherds are less than 5 mm. in thickness and the average is 6.5 mm.; brushing is used on six of the sherds, vertical incising on the others, varying from firm to sloppy and scratchy.

The other brushed sherds from this site fall into the type which we now callBossier Brushed(formerlyMaddox Brushedincluded these and the vertically brushed included now inKarnack Brushed-Incised). It is very similar to or identical withPlaquemine Brushedtype of the Plaquemine and late Coles Creek periods in central Louisiana. Chief indicated differences are rolled or narrow everted rims in some of theBossiertype, whereas they are direct or slightly everted inPlaquemine; more frequent cross brushing inPlaqueminethan inBossier; bone temper in a few of theBossier, absent inPlaquemine; and an occasional row of punctations below the brushed zone inPlaquemine, not found inBossier. These are minor differences, easily attributable to regional variations, and it would probably be desirable to define a single type, with recognition of minor local variations.

There are 31Bossier Brushedsherds (Fig. 10, I-K, M), of which seven are from rims. Temper is clay-grit or ground sherd; one is bone tempered. Surface colors include two black, four chocolate brown, the others lighter shades of tan, buff, and gray. Only five sherds are 5 mm. or less in thickness; others are 5.5-11 mm., averaging 7.3 mm. (It is thicker than most types.) The seven rim sherds have horizontal brushing on two, diagonal on four, both on one. The body sherds show a similar distribution, with diagonal brushing predominating. Cross brushing or incising is present on seven (Fig. 10, M).

There are nine plain vessels (Fig. 4, A, B, K-P, R) from the burialsand 644 plain sherds from this site which apparently relate to the earlier ceramics. The vessels, all identified asSmithport Plain, include three bottles, four simple bowls, one carinated bowl, and one recurved jar.Smithport Plaintherefore runs the gamut of vessel forms common to decorated types; cylindrical jar forms are included in the sherds. The 644 plain sherds include 65 rim sherds (the only definiteSmithportsherds), one-fourth as many as the total rim sherds in the decorated types and exceeded only byKiam Incisedwith 82 rim sherds. The total number of plain sherds in our collection is altered by the element of selectivity in surface collecting; we were less likely to save plain sherds unless they were large or were rim sherds. The frequency of plain wares at this period contrasts with the situation in the later Bossier and Belcher ceramics, where undecorated vessels are infrequent. For example, at the Belcher Site (Webb, 1959) there were only nine plain vessels among the total of 195, and plain sherds constituted only 44 per cent of total sherds (most of these were from undecorated portions of decorated vessels).

The 65Smithport Plainrims include 15 which are everted, 26 vertical, and 18 incurvate; additionally there are rims from two simple, shallow bowls, one rim with an exterior roll, one everted rim with interior bevel and exterior strap thickening, one bottle spout, and one shallow toy dish. The everted rims are unmodified in seven instances, and thinned in eight with rounded lips. Lip thinning of everted rims was effected by exaggerating the outward curve of the rim interior; that of incurvate bowls by exaggerating the exterior curve. The vertical rims are unmodified with rounded lips in 12 instances, thinned and rounded in eight, flat in four, and have beveled exteriors in two. The incurvate rims are thinned with rounded lips in nine, unmodified with rounded lips in five, flattened lips in two, externally beveled in one, and thickened with rounding in one.

The plain sherds include 20 recognizable as bases, nine of which are complete flat discs. These range from 6 to 13 cm. in diameter and are 6 to 12 mm. thick. One large basal sherd has a smooth central perforation, 13 mm. in diameter, and rounded edges. It possibly was used as a spindle whorl. These are frequently found at Bossier and Belcher sites, but usually are smaller and lighter.

An additional 46 plain sherds show the wall-base junction. Eight of these are from open flat bowls, one from a deeper bowl, one from a bottle, four from miniature vessels and 32 from jar, deep bowl or cylindrical vessel forms.

The plain sherds have paste characteristics similar to the decorated types already described. Nine of the 644 sherds are bone tempered.

A group of 37 sherds have characteristics completely alien to the ceramics described above. They are lighter feeling, often with porous surfaces or with obvious shell tempering, confirmed by tests. Eight are engraved; a shell tempered sherd, reddish in color (Fig. 10, P), with horizontal engraved lines from which triangular spurs project; four other shell tempered with red or orange color and engraved lines, untyped; two black shell tempered with indeterminate engraving, and one black polished clay tempered sherd of typeHodges Engraved(Fig. 10, R).

There are 11 sherds, shell tempered and orange to gray in color, with curvilinear incising (Fig. 10, N, S). This ware was once termedWilkinson Negative Meanderbut was never formally described. Another name should be chosen, because the Wilkinson Site, like Smithport, is primarily Alto with transition to Bossier, and has a minimal late (Natchitoches) occupation.

Two sherds have linear punctations on shell tempered ware (Fig. 10, Q) and two others, untyped, have horizontal incising. There are 14 plain, 4-6 mm. thick, of which nine are shell tempered, two bone, three clay.

A fragment of perforated pottery base, presumably a spindle whorl fragment, was mentioned in the discussion of plain pottery. There were also three fragments of fired daub with grass impressions and one flattened surface. One tiny cone-shaped pottery fragment suggested a figurine or doll leg. No other clay or ceramic artifacts were found. Noticeable by their absence are pipes or pipe stem fragments, animal figurines or heads, clay labrets and ear ornaments, all of which are not unusual in this area.

Other negative ceramic traits are the absence of shell temper, except in the small group of obviously late wares; red filming; pigment impression into the lines of decoration; handles or other vessel appendages; squared bases (not unusual elsewhere in Coles Creek and Alto ceramics); squared or castellated rims (Vessel 105,Fig. 4, I is the only instance of scalloped rim); vessel effigies, either whole vessel or rim attachments; stamping (one foreign sherd), and cord marking.

Table 1shows the assignment of burial vessel and sherd types to various ceramic complexes, based on the descriptions of Ford (1951), Ford and Willey (1940), and Quimby (1951) for central Louisiana; Newell and Krieger (1949), and Suhm, Krieger, and Jelks (1954) for east Texas Alto; and the author’s publications (1948; 1959) and collections from northern and central Louisiana. It becomes apparent that neat typing and alignment of sherd collections from this site, true of many other sites in northwestern Louisiana, is a phantasy. This site lies within a broad contact zone, extending into southwestern Arkansas and eastern Texas, between the expanding populations and flowering cultures of the lower Mississippi-Red River confluence in central Louisiana and Mississippi on one side and the four-state Caddoan area on the other, in post-Hopewell-Marksville times.

As a result (or as evidence) of this cultural admixture and interchange, we see large groups of sherds from this site, in the punctated and incised categories, which cannot with impunity be assigned to a previously described type in a specific cultural assemblage. They could be as easily assigned to a companion type in one, two or even three other surrounding assemblages. Only by having whole vessels available—from which details of vessel size and shape, and decoration can be determined—or by correlation of sherds with distinctive types, may one draw tentative conclusions about affiliation. I have therefore found it necessary (Table 1) to list certain types from this site as possibly deriving from Alto or Coles Creek ceramics, others from Alto, Coles Creek, Bossier or Plaquemine, and yet a third group of brushed and incised which might derive, insofar as characteristics of a given sherd or group of sherds indicate, from Bossier or Plaquemine. The absence of distinctive Plaquemine types eliminates this assemblage from consideration, but distinctive types of Alto, Coles Creek and Bossier are present and give our clues for major alignments. We should be able to work on the assumption that the indeterminate types will derive from the three complexes, Alto, Coles Creek and Bossier, in about the same proportion as these complexes are represented by distinctive types.

It appears, then, that the major complex at this site is Alto; certainly the burial pottery is of this complex. Coles Creek is present to a minor extent and it is probable that some of the uncertain punctated and incised sherds are fromHardy,Manchac, andRhineharttypes. Finally, occupation seems to have lasted into the Alto-Bossier transition to the stage when distinctive Bossier Focus types had developed, so that there is a respectable representation of this period. The brushed wares and some of the incised and punctated also probably relate to the Bossier pottery complex. It is improbable, however, that Bossier occupation lasted very long, certainly not long enough for a transition to late Glendora Focus times when the small group of shell tempered sherds would have been made. The site was probably deserted for a long time, then briefly occupied by late Natchitoches-related people, possibly in the historic period. The Yatasi village mentioned by Marcelo De Soto (D’Antoni, 1961a) is to be considered.

The 61 larger projectile points which are classified as dart pointsare, with few exceptions, comparatively small and rough. Most are made of quartzite, cherts, and petrified wood found locally. Thirty-five are of tan chert, four of petrified wood, two of red chert, six of white or light gray quartzite, and others of varying shades of brown, or mottled materials.

Garypoints (Fig. 11, N-P) total 14; with most made of tan chert, two of petrified wood, and one of white quartzite. The range in length is 2.8 to 5.6 cm. with nine of the 14 in the category ofSmall Gary(Ford and Webb, 1956: 52). The latter are less than 4.5 cm. in length.

Ellispoints (Fig. 11, Q-S) number 16, of which 12 are made of tan, gray or yellow local cherts, two of petrified wood. The length varies from 2.6 to 4.6 cm., the width 1.5 to 2.9 cm. Shoulders tend to be straight, only two having barbs. Stem bases are usually straight or mildly convex.

Carrolltonpoints (Fig. 11, X), four in number, are made of materials different from the prevailing tan chert. One each is of granular quartzite, waxy gray chert, white chert, and black chert. They are 4.1 to 4.5 cm. long, 2.3 to 2.8 cm. wide. Stems are not smoothed.

Kentpoints total five (Fig. 11, T, U), and are typically crude in manufacture. They are of gray, tan, and mottled cherts. Lengths are 3.7 cm. to 4.5 cm., widths 1.6 to 2.4 cm.; they are somewhat smaller than those in eastern Texas (Suhm and Jelks, 1962).

The threePontchartrainpoints (Fig. 11, EE, FF) are the largest and best made points from this site. Two are of light tan chert, the third of darker tan. Lengths are 7.7, 9.3, and 9.7 cm.; widths 2.5, 2.9, and 3.2 cm., respectively. The blades are rounded on one face, ridged on the other, have good large flake scars, and typical fine retouch at the edges. One (Fig. 11, FF) has an asymmetrically placed stem; another (Fig. 11, EE) has a rectangular stem and short barbs; the third has a contracting stem.

One projectile point (Fig. 11, Y) is hesitantly calledEnsorbecause of the low, narrow side notches and straight stem base. It is small, 3.7 cm. long and 1.8 cm. wide, of tan chert, roughly flaked. The blade edges are convex and irregular serrated.

Two specimens have outlines likeDesmukepoints but are made of poor materials, petrified wood and gnarled chert, and the typing is questionable. Both are thick, with bifacial ridges. A third of similar appearance has anAlmagre-like basal tip, but is much smaller than this type, 5 cm. long, 2.5 cm. wide.

Two points are classified asElam(Fig. 11, V, W). They are short, thick and stubby, slightly asymmetrical and identical in size, 3.5 cm. long, 2.3 cm. wide. They are made of tan and brown quartzite.

Fig. 11. Projectile Points and Chipped Stone Tools. A, B,Albatype. C, D,Hayes. E, F,Friley. G,Maud. H,Cliffton. I, Untyped. J,Catahoula. K-M,Colbert. N-P,Gary. Q-S,Ellis. T, U,Kent. V, W,Elam. X,Carrollton. Y, possibleEnsor. Z-DD, Untyped. EE, FF,Pontchartrain. GG-II, Rough blades. JJ, KK, Drills. LL, End scraper. MM-PP, Small triangular and ovate scrapers.

Twelve projectile points are unclassified. Three of these are broken. A group of four (Fig. 11, Z) is characterized by rough manufacture, irregular wide blades with poor tips, and small, poorly formed stems. Similar specimens have been found at other sites in north Louisiana, never in large numbers. Possibly they were used as hafted knives or scrapers. One specimen (Fig. 11, AA) has long, shallow side notches which are smoothed and a stubby, poorly made blade. Possibly it is a reworkedYarbroughpoint or an atypicalTrinitypoint. A small point of gray quartzite (Fig. 11, BB) has blade edge notches and expanded stem resemblingEvanspoints, but it is much smaller thanEvans. Similar small points with one to several blade edge notches have been found on sites in Bossier and De Soto parishes, they will probably be typed by another name thanEvans(the nameSinnerhas been suggested because of their frequency at the Jim Sinner Site).

A small point of white chert (Fig. 11, CC) has a greater width than length; the base is wide and short; one shoulder is barbed, the other barely suggested. Another small point has a rectangular stem and triangular blade but is much smaller thanCarrollton, or evenElampoints.

The most unusual point (Fig. 11, DD) has a long rectangular stem, a small shoulder on one side only, and a short, asymmetrical blade. Blade and stem edges are beveled bilaterally on each face, with fine retouch flaking which serrates all edges. The base is mildly concave and is thinned by removal of a long, shallow channel flake on one face, a shorter channel flake on the other, terminating in a hinge fracture. The base and lower stem edges are smoothed.

There are 55 small projectile points sufficiently intact for typing and 12 broken so that typing is impossible. Materials include tan, red, brown, and gray chert from local gravels; two gray-white chert; one novaculite, and two dark brown to black flint.

Albapoints (Fig. 11, A, B), 20 in number, are mostly of tan or reddish-brown local cherts. They vary from slender to wide, with a range of 2 to 3.8 cm. in length. Most recurve to form widened shoulders which may be right angled or barbed; edges may be mildly serrated. I have placed in this type only points with square or rectangular stems.

There are twoHayespoints (Fig. 11, C, D), of gray and red-brown chert. They are small, 2.6 and 2.8 cm. long, 1.3 and 1.9 cm. wide; thefirst differs from the type description in having straight edges and no barbs, but the stem shape is typical.

Five points are ofFrileytype (Fig. 11, E, F), characterized by definite shoulders with extreme curves so that the barbs turn toward the blade tip. Stems are expanded or rectangular. Three are of red-brown chert, two of tan chert. Lengths are 1.4 to 2.5 cm., widths 1.0 to 1.5 cm.

One typicalMaudpoint (Fig. 11, G) of tan chert, has a deeply concave base and mildly serrated edges.

Four points are included in theClifftontype (Fig. 11, H). They are hardly more than roughly shaped small, wide flakes but have vague stems and some secondary flaking. They are uniform in size, 2 to 2.3 cm. long, 1.6 to 1.9 cm. wide and all are made of tan chert. A fifth small point (Fig. 11, I) of dark gray flint has a pointed stem, concave blade edges, and a strongly pointed tip; in essence, it is a concave-edged hexagon. It may be a variation ofCliffton, but has been left untyped.

A group of 21 points (Fig. 11, K-M) is characterized by expanded stems produced by corner notching, and blades which are much likeAlba. This point has been the subject of considerable discussion because of its frequency in Louisiana and southern Arkansas; it has been included in theAlbatype in some publications, in theScallorntype in others, but has distinct and, we believe, meaningful differences from each of these types. We have therefore given it the type nameColbert. It rivals theAlbatype in frequency at sites like Smithport Landing, Colbert, Greer, Swanson’s Landing, and Mounds Plantation (Fig. 1) where there are Alto and Coles Creek components in respectable amounts. It is found, along withAlba, in central Louisiana, especially in Troyville-Coles Creek context (Ford, 1951: Fig. 45, U-W). Recent excavations at the Crenshaw Site in southwestern Arkansas uncovered Coles Creek and Caddoan burials in Mound B; consistently the Coles Creek burials had points similar toColbert(calledHomanin Arkansas) and the Caddoan hadAlbaorHayes. TheColbertpoints have triangular blades with concave or recurved edges, distinct and usually wide shoulders, barbs, and triangular or fan-shaped stems. The stem bases may be straight or more often convex, rarely concave. Specimens from Smithport are made of tan, reddish-brown, white and gray local cherts, one of novaculite, and two of white quartz. Lengths are from 1.2 to 3.2 cm., widths from 9 mm. to 2 cm.

A large flat point of tan chert (Fig. 11, J) has the flake characteristics of an arrow point despite its large size, 4.3 by 3 cm. It has the corner notching and wide barbs characteristic ofCatahoulapoints.

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