essay

Perkiomen points: a study in variability

experiments and observations on the terminal archaic of the middle atlantic regionBethlehem, CtPublished In 1990 • Pages: 1-62

By: Truncer, James J..

AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
Previous functional interpretations of Perkiomen points have been riddled with many problems and assumptions. Truncer examines these studies and describes the regional variability of the Perkiomen point and the other stone tools associated with the point. Truncer had some Perkiomen points made and experimentally used them to examine their breakage patterns. The breakage patterns indicate Perkiomen points were used as both projectiles and knives. He then examined about 500 archaeological specimens to determine their breakage patterns and use. He also found that Perkiomen points were found in a variety of environmental contexts and that there is regional variation in the points. Truncer explores what is known about the people who used the points. For another artical on Perkiomen points see eHRAF document no. 20.
SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
Reviews and critiques
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Organization and analysis of results of research
Experimental data
Lithic industries
Weapons
General tools
traditionCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
Eastern Late Archaic
HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
2000
RegionThe area the document pertains to
North America
Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
Eastern Woodlands
Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
essay
Evaluation
Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
Archaeologist
Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
Sarah Berry ; 2005
Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
no date
Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
Terminal Archaic; 4000 BP-3500 BP (2000 B.C.-1500 B.C.)
Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia; United States
NotesAdditional notes
James J. Truncer
Includes bibliographical references (p. 42-48)
LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
90205480
LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
Indians of North America--Antiquities