Perkiomen: Top Row: quartzite, chert, tuff; Bottom Row: jasper, quartzite, rhyolite, quartzite.
Perkiomen: 44CK0004, all rhyolite.
Perkiomen: 44CK0004, rhyolite performs.
Type Corner Notched Late-Archaic
Defining Attributes
The Perkiomen is a broad, boldly flaked spear-point of semi-lozenge shape. The stem is small with a usually convex (although sometimes straight) base. Generally, Perkiomen points are generally half as broad as long, rarely narrow, and often very asymmetrical. They are extremely thin for their width.
Chronology
The Perkiomen point dates to the Late Archaic period, 1500 to 1200 BCE. Witthoft (1953) describes the Perkiomen as similar to the Susquehanna Broad point.
Description
Discussion
Perkiomen points are often found in association with soapstone vessels. They are found in small numbers across all of Virginia. They tend to be made from exotic material. Most of the points made from chert or jasper were flaked from thermally altered flakes or preforms (McAvoy & McAvoy 1997).
Defined in Literature
This type was originally defined by Witthoft in 1953 in Pennsylvania Archaeologist, based on points recovered from eastern Pennsylvania (originally called the Perkiomen Broad Spear point).
References
Updated: July 23, 2018