Kays

The Kay’s is a medium to large, straight stemmed point with an excurvate blade. Several examples from Cambron site 4, Limestone County, Alabama, provided the following measurements: maximum 88 mm; minimum 56 mm; average, 63 mm in length. The cross-section is bi-convex. Shoulders are usually tapered but may be horizontal and may be rounded on some examples. The blade is excurvate, but maybe nearly straight. The distal end is acute to sharply acute. This stem is straight and is slightly wider than it is long, with a straight basil edge that may be very slightly incurvate or excurvate. The edges of the stem are thin and may be ground.

The blade and stem are shaped by broad shallow to deep flaking. While a few examples appear to have been shaped by collateral flaking, random flaking is usually employed. Short, regular, secondary flaking was used to finish the blade and hafting area edges. All examples of the measured group are patinated and are made of local materials.

The type was named for the Kay’s landing site in Henry County, Tennessee. At the Stanfeild-Worley Bluff Shelter, one example each was recovered from levels 1, 8, 9 and 10 in zone A. This indicates an Archaic association. Three examples were recovered from stratum II (Archaic) at the Flint Creek Rock Shelter. At Flint River mound 12 of the 18 examples recovered were from zone C (upper Archaic), 2 from zone C-E, 2 from zone D (lower shell mound Archaic) and 1 each from zones A and B (Woodland). This is a strong indication of Late Archaic association at this site. Kneberg suggests a Middle Archaic to Late Archaic association and a date of about 5000 to 2000 BP. Richie notes the marked similarity of Kay’s points to Genesee points of New York. The latter have radiocarbon dates of 4941 ± 260 BP to 3684 +/- 250 the peak. Genesee points average 3 to 3.5 inches in length and range to 6 inches or longer, considerably larger than Kay’s points. A Middle to Late Archaic association is indicated by available evidence, including surface associations.

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