Point Type: PINE TREE a.k.a. Corner Notched Serrated Point
Also See: Big Sandy, Charleston, Greenbrier, Kirk Corner Notched , Lost Lake, Palmer , Pine Tree Corner Notched, Stilwell

Location: Southeastern United States

Associated Dates: 8000 - 5000 B.P. - Early Archaic - Mid Archaic
Morphology: Side Notched

General Description: The Pine Tree dart point is a medium to large sized side notched type that is usually serrated along the blade edges and has parallel or distal chevron flaking to the center of the blade which forms a biface bevel and a lengthwise ridge along the middle of the blade. The base on this point is ground and can be concave, convex , straight or auriculate (with ears). The side edges of the stem are incurvate. It is suggested that the Pine Tree point evolved from the earlier Greenbrier type. Small examples of Pine Tree points are often classified as Palmer points. Perino states that the Pine Tree and the Charleston may be the same type. Pine Tree points in pristine state can be wide and as reworking took place the point became less broad and more rapier looking or pointed in shape.

The Pine Tree is found in Alabama, Tennessee, the Carolinas and Georgia. The Pine Tree is also found in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky where they are sometimes called "Corner Notched Serrated Points".

The average size of the Pine Tree point is 55 mm in length with the size range being between 66 mm and 50 mm. The width ranges from 25 mm to 29 mm across the barbs. Thickness ranges from 5 mm to 9 mm. The stem length ranges from 11 mm to 15 mm. The stem width ranges from 26 mm to 29 mm wide across the basal edge.  The side notches average about 9 mm wide and 3 mm deep. The point was named by James W. Cambron in 1957 for examples which were recovered from the Pine Tree site in Limestone County, Alabama.

About the Point Above (Left): The large Pine Tree point pictured at the left top of this page, was found near Lutts, along Indian Creek, Wayne County, Tennessee. The point is made from dark tan colored flint. It has undergone edge resharpening and has bifacial retouch scars in the form of parallel flaking which forms a ridge from the tip to 30 mm back from the tip. The edges are finely serrated. Overall, the point measures 65 mm in length, is 27 mm wide across the barbs, and is only 8 mm thick in mid blade. The stem is 12 mm long and the ears of the stem are 27 mm wide. The base is ground as are the ears and side notches. The concavity of the base is 3.5 mm deep. The left barb (lower in the photo) has a very small chip which reduces its length and reduces the barb width. From the barbs back to the ears, the stem is thinned by the removal of 2 broad central flakes and 2 smaller on each side of the central flakes. The stem thickness, including the ears is 4 mm. Catalog Number 3-35-D

About the Point Above (Right): The large Pine Tree point pictured at the left top of this page, is from the former Johnnie Woodard collection and was found near the town of Dickson, Dickson County, Tennessee. The point is made from dark tan colored flint. It has undergone edge reworking and is highly serrated. Overall, the point measures 63.5 mm in length, is 29 mm wide across the barbs, and is 9 mm thick in mid blade. The stem is 13 mm long and the ears of the stem are 28 mm wide. The base is ground as are the ears and side notches. The concavity of the base is 2 mm deep. From the barbs back to the ears, the stem is thinned by the removal of 2 broad central flakes and 2 smaller on each side of the central flakes. The stem thickness, including the ears is 5 mm. Catalog Number 155-45-D

References: Baker, Cambron & Hulse, Overstreet, Perino (1), Waldorf

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