Large percent of Late Paleoindian points have asymmetrical bases and beveled blades. The site is in west Louisiana. It is located on the upland/bottomland interface overlooking a small stream with a wide floodplain abundant in hardwood and palmetto. Has been suggested that the basal edges are shaped to strengthen their hafting for the task the points/knives were used for, possibly plant processing (see photo).
I imagine that the points were most likely attached to wooden shafts using thongs made of reeds or leather. The end of the wooden shaft would have been split and the case of the point inserted into it, and then secured with a binding of reeds or leather. The notches in the points are to prevent the head slipping out of the binding.
Alastair, see the new image. Bottom row is what normal bases of this type look like, while the top row is how a large percentage of bases from one site are shaped. This asymmetry in basal cavity and thickening of one ear is only seen in roughly 1:10 of this point type regionally (impression based on a review of specimens recovered from the area), but at this site the ratio is 7.2:10. Thus it appears that the asymmetry of the basal components served some purpose. My thought and an archaeobotanist's is that they were using the hafted projectile points for processing something and that the asymmetrical basal configuration strengthened the tool in the haft as it was utilized for that specific purpose.
Hi James,
I see what you mean now.
My guess is that they are arrow heads, and that the larger notch was the site for the knot attaching the head to the arrow, which improved the aerodynamics. Sounds like an experiment is called for :-)
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