Name Details:
Named By: Joffre L. Coe
Named For: Palmer Mountain near Type Site
Date Identified: 1964
Type Site: Hardaway Site, Stanly County, North Carolina
Palmer
AKA: Kirk Corner Notch (Small Variety)
Cluster: Kirk Corner Notch Cluster
Commonly Utilized Material:
Cherts, rhyolite, quartz, and quartzite including
Oolitic
Quartzite
Date:
Cultural Period:
9,500 -8,500 B.P.
Early Archaic
Early Holocene
Glacial Period:
Culture:
Outline is Representative of Common Size and Shape:
Description of Physical Characteristics and Flaking Pattern:
This is a
small (less then 2 inches) triangular corner notch point with an elliptical cross section. The blade is primarily straight, but may vary to slightly incurvate or slightly excurvate. Serrated blades are common for this type. The shoulders are primarily barbed, but may be horizontal or slightly sloping upwards. The stem is expanding. The base is most commonly straight, but may vary from slightly convex to slightly concave.
Heavy basal grinding and thinning are commonly seen giving the hafting region a smooth appearance. This point has a random flaking pattern.
Size Measurements:
Total Length - 23 to 60 mm (26 to 35 mm average), Stem Length - 4 to 12 mm (average 7 to 9 mm), Blade Width -
14 to 29 mm (19 to 22 mm average), Neck Width - 12 to 18 mm (14 to 16 mm average), Basal Width - 15 to 25 mm ( 17 to 21 mm), Thickness - 3 to 10 mm (average 8mm)
Distribution:
Distribution Comments:
This point is primarily associated with the Eastern Seaboard region
of the United States, into the the Gulf Coastal region and the
Tennessee River and Ohio River basins. This point is found
into the Mississippi River Basin and the Northeastern United States
with decreased frequency.
Additional Comments:
Coe (1959) states, "Following the Hardaway occupation, the style of projectile points changed to a small corner-notched serrated variety with extensive grinding along the base. Along with this the use of the small
hafted snub-nosed scraper increased considerably."
This point is thought to have evolved into the Kirk point (Coe, 1964), and the later Decatur point (W2).
John Whatley argues that small Bolen Corner Notch would be better classified as this type and large Bolen Corner Notch would be better classified as Kirk Corner Notch (Schroder, 2013).
Point Validity: Valid Type
Coe was a highly respected and
pioneering anthropologist in North Carolina archaeology and a preeminent authority on eastern North American anthropology. This type was named in a professional
publication and has many professional references. This is considered a valid type.
.
Age Details:
Coe (1964) felt that Palmer points were earlier than Kirk Comer
Notched. However, Whatley (2002) notes that the temporal differentiation
between the two comer-notched types is not well defined. He feels a
case could be made for lumping the two types together.
References: (See Reference Page, Entry Number):
8,
12,
23, 30, 37, 162, 179, W10, W11, W18
Palmer Projectile Point, Palmer Arrowhead
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