Maples

The Maples is a large, thin, broad stemmed point with an excurvate base. Six examples from the Tennessee River Valley measured a maximum of 119 mm, a minimum of 61 mm, and an average of 93 mm in length. The cross-section is biconvex. Shoulders are tapered. Blade edges are usually excurvate, but may be straight. The distal end is usually acute. The stem is short and usually contracted-rounded with excurvate side edges. The basal edge is excurvate or straight, usually thinned, and may be ground.

Broad, shallow to deep flaking was used to shape the blade and stem. A minimum of secondary flaking was used on some examples, sometimes on only one edge of a face. Other examples show a considerable amount of retouching along the blade edge. A minimum of secondary flaking was used on the basal edge and sides of the stem. Local materials were utilized, especially Ft. Payne chert.

The type was named from sites along Elk River near Maples Bridge in Limestone County, Alabama. At Stanfield-Worley Bluff Shelter an example was recovered from Level 9 of Zone A. This indicates an Archaic association. Seven examples from the 3-foot level and one from the 5-foot level at Little Bear Creek site Ct8 place the association as Late Archaic at this site. At Flint River Shell Mound one example was recovered from Zone A and one from Zone C-D (Archaic). An example was recovered from Archaic Level 7 at the University of Alabama site 1 Ru28 in Russell County, Alabama, on the Chattahoochee River. Evidence indicates a Middle to Late Archaic association with a probable date of about 4000 years ago or slightly earlier.

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