Cougars, Mountain Lions, and Pumas - One Creature with Three Names A Metric Analysis of Quad, Price Stemmed, and Chesrow Projectile Points From Southern Wisconsin

Summary

Across southern Wisconsin a distinct style of projectile point is represented in several artifact collections. It is lanceolate in shape, having concave bases, and basal tangs that angle down and out. Workmanship varies from crude to refined. This point style has been identified as Chesrow, Price Stemmed, and Quad. With these names comes affiliation with three distinct times and cultures: Chesrow – Pre-Clovis; Quad - Late-Paleo Indian; Price Stemmed - Late Archaic. This paper describes a metric analysis of 31 Quad, 63 Price Stemmed, and 31 Chesrow projectile points. Comparable macroscopic attributes, quality of craftsmanship, and a common usage of local, low to medium grade, raw material supports an interpretation the southern Wisconsin points designated under these three names represent only one type. Statistical evidence suggests, however there is a variance in size with points from the Price Stemmed and Quad subset being generally larger than points from the Chesrow subset. Based on stratigraphic context from Governor Dodge rockshelter in southern Wisconsin evidence

suggests these points were manufactured during the Middle to Late Archaic times.

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Contact(s): Monty Rogers

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