Point Type: HEMPHILL
Also See: Accokeek, Archaic Side Notched, Big Sandy, Big Sandy Contracted Base, Cache River, Cairo Side Notched, Dalton-Hemphill, Godar, Madison Side-Notched, Meadowood, Newton Falls Side Notched, Osceola, Otter Creek, Wolf Creek,

Location: Midwestern to Northeastern United States

Associated Dates: 4500 - 3000 B.P.- Mid Archaic to Late Archaic
Morphology: Side Notched

General Description: The Hemphill is a medium to large sized side notched point with a concave to straight basal edge. It is a member of the large (see the Also See list above) Archaic side notched cluster of point types. It is most similar to the Osceola type. The Hemphill is usually thinner and exhibits a higher degree of flaking technique than the similar but older Osceola point type. The Hemphill typically has large random percussion flake scars across the blade which are usually followed by finer blade edge retouching. The blade shape can vary from parallel-sided to trianguloid with the blade edges converging abruptly at the tip. Side notches are usually deep and wide. A few specimens exhibit a fish tail basal treatment. The Hemphill's blade can exhibit a broadening towards the distal end.

The point was named by Edward G. Scully for specimens that he found at sites in the Central Mississippi Valley. I have no average size data on the Hemphill blade. The Hemphill has been found along the Mississippi, Illinois and Missouri River valleys.

About the Point Above (Left): The large unique Hemphill variety blade pictured at the top left of this page, was found in Gasconade County, Missouri. The point is made from a beautiful, waxy and glossy russet-tan Novaculite type of flint. It has very nice edgework, is made from a slightly twisted or torqued blade and has a split, fish tail or indented basal treatment. The blade is quite thin for its size. This blade is featured on page 115 of Lar Hothem's latest book Indian Artifacts of the Midwest, Book III. Overall, the point measures 80 mm in length, is 43 mm wide (across the shoulders) and is only 9 mm thick in mid blade. The base is 38 mm wide. The base is heavily ground are the ears and the notches. The flaking scars reveal smoothing typical of the effects of weathering. Catalog Number 109C-185-M

About the Point Above (Right): The small Hemphill blade pictured at the top right of this page, was found in Schuyler County, Illinois. The point is made from a cream colored flint. The point displays wide notches which lead to a concave auriculated base. Overall, the point measures 46 mm in length, is 28 mm wide (across the shoulders) and is 8 mm thick in mid blade. The base is 23.5 mm wide. The base is ground are the ears and the notches. Catalog Number 91A-35-M

References: Justice, Overstreet, Waldorf

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