Point Type: BEACON ISLAND
Also See: Big Slough, Elk River, Flint Creek , Palmillas, Turkey Tail - Harrison

Location: Southeastern United States

Associated Dates: 3500 - 2200 B.P. - Late Archaic - Woodland
Morphology: Stemmed

General Description: The Beacon Island is a small to large sized trianguloid bladed, bulbous stemmed dart or spear point. The shoulders on the point are usually very well defined and can be barbed. The stem is alway bulbous and is thin in thickness. The blade's general outline is triangular. The blade edges are unbeveled and often faintly serrated. The blade's proximal end has horizontal, slightly tapered or slightly inversely tapered barbs. Numerous percussion flake scars remain on both blade faces. Flint Creek style of flaking was usually employed to finish the blade edges and to produce faint biface serrations. The Beacon Island is very similar to the Palmillas type in Texas. The blade has been recovered from numerous sites in association with Flint Creek and other Early Woodland artifacts.

The Beacon Island point ranges in size from 32 mm to 121 mm in length with the average being 58 mm. The width ranges from 26 mm to 38 mm with the average being 31 mm. The stem can range from 14 mm to 17 mm in length with the average being 15 mm. The stem width ranges from 11 mm to 20 mm wide with the average being 18 mm. The Beacon Island type was named by Ralph H. Allen and David C. Hulse for examples which were recovered from Beacon Island near Florence, Alabama.

About the Point Above: The point pictured above is a large Beacon Island point made from a very highly patinated, satin, brownish tree bark colored flint with tanish undertones. The point measures 90 mm in length, 33 mm at the widest point (at mid blade) and is 9 mm thick (at mid blade) along the blade with the the base thinning to 4 mm. The stem is 14 mm wide at the notches and is 14 mm long. The base does not appear to be ground. The blade edges are somewhat sharp and have well worn down very fine serrations. The blade has a median ridge on one side (photgraphed) and is relativly flat on the other blade face. This point was a surface find from the bed of one of the small creeks near the town of Ramar, Tennessee. Catalog Number 28-55-D

References: Baker, Overstreet

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