Alba

The Alba point was named by Alex Krieger (1946) as a result of research and types found in east Texas. Originally, it was called the “Alba Barbed.”

Krieger (1949) describe the Alba point as follows: “the blade edges are commonly recurved or concave between the widely flaring barbs and tip; they are sometimes finely serrated. Stems very from parallel-edges to bulbous or fan-shaped. Length varies from .5 to 1.5 inches but 1 inch is most common; the stem is usually 1/4 to 1/5 the total length.” Suhm and Krieger (1954) describe the type as follows: “triangular blade with edges usually concave or recurved, seldom straight. Shoulders are wide, out flaring, and usually barbed. Stem edges are usually parallel, occasionally contracted or expanded slightly. The base is straight or slightly convex. The blade edges are sometimes finely serrated.”

The type is found chiefly in the Caddoan area of Northeast Texas, Eastern Oklahoma, southwestern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. Occasionally finds are made around the peripheries of this central area.

Schuman and Krieger (1954) suggested an age for the type from about the time of Christ up to 1200 A.D. or later. Radiocarbon dates from the Harlan site and elsewhere suggest a date ranging from 700 to 800 A.D. up to 1300 or 1400 A.D.

The Hays point, found primarily in Illinois, is very similar and dates to the Late Woodland to Middle Mississippian period about A.D. 800 to 1400.  The Homan point from the same area and approximate date is also very similar.  The Keota point from Mississippi that dates to the same period is also probably related to this family.  The Perdiz point found in Tennessee, Missouri, and Alabama also dates to this period is is no doubt a related point.

Information for this article was derived from James W. Cambron and David C. Hulse, Handbook of Alabama Archaeology, Alabama Archaeological Society