Point Type: ETLEY
Also See: Eva, Darl,  Hardin, Lang,   Meadowood, Morton Lanceolate,  Pickwick, Red Ocher, Smith Basal Notched, Spring Creek, Stilwell, Stone Square Stemmed

Location: Midwestern United States

Associated Dates: 4000 - 2500 B.P. - Late Archaic to Early Woodland
Morphology: Corner Notched - Basal Notched

General Description: The Etley type is a large sized narrow blade or spearpoint with a long needle-like distal tip and a long blade with recurvate blade edges. However in some specimens, the recurved outline of the blade is not pronounced. The Etley has a short expanding stem (however there are contracting stemmed variants) with a straight to slightly convex basal edge. The stem is usually about 1/10th the total length of the point. The Etley exhibits a distinct and pronounced barbed shoulder that usually expands and the barbs have a tendency to point downwards and away from the blade towards the base. The barbs are usually rounded somewhat. The blade edge just above the barbs is usually incurvate until about one-half of the length of the point and then arcs in an excurvate manner to the tip. The maximum overall width usually occurs at the tip of the barbs. Flake scars are flat, expanding and massive. The blade cross section can vary from parallel-sided to triangular. Reworking due to use wear does affect the barbs which can vary from expanding to absent on highly reworked specimens.

The Etley point type contains specimens of imposing size and technical knapping excellence. 

The Etley is found chiefly in the St. Louis, Missouri area including central and southern Illinois and east-central Missouri. The Etley could occur in lower frequency in the lower Ohio River Valley and a single blade was found in a burial at the Crib Mound site in Spencer County, Indiana. The Etley is found on the surface, in refuse pits and in mortuary caches with extended burials. Most are made from local white cherts and a few from Missouri are made from a black chert. The Etley may be related to the Pickwick type which is from the same time period.

The Etley ranges in size from 76 mm to 279 mm in length. The width varies from 32 mm to 60 mm. The stem width ranges from 19 mm to 26 mm. Typical overall thickness is 10 mm to 15 mm. The barbs run from 6 mm to 10 mm in length on most specimens.

The Etley type was named "Etley Stemmed" by Edward G. Scully in 1951 for examples found at the Oettle Farm, Calhoun County, Illinois and was anglicized to the "Etley" by Dr. P. F. Titterington.

About the Point Above (Left): The Etley blade pictured at the top left hand side of this page, is an average sized for the type class and is made from white Burlington chert that has high occurrences of mineralization patination. The blade measures 160 mm in length and measures 55 mm at its widest point which is across the barbs. The maximum blade thickness is 10.5 mm. The stem is 21 mm long and is 26 mm wide at the base which is slightly ground. The point was formerly in the Norris Garriott collection and is from Warren County, Missouri. Catalog Number 111-166-R

References: Baker, Bell (2), Dragoo (c, e), Hranicky (1), Justice (1), Overstreet, Perino (1)

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