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CACHE VARIETY
THEBES POINTS
EARLY ARCHAIC
ILLINOIS & IOWA
8000 B.C. TO 6000 B.C.
PAGE 2 OF 2 PAGES
COPYRIGHT JANUARY 31, 2005 PETER A. BOSTROM
Five large Thebes points.
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5 LARGE THEBES POINTS FROM ILLINOIS & IOWA

    The five Thebes points pictured above are all very good examples of the Cache variety Thebes points. They all have the distinctive large rectangular notches and wide blades. The three largest examples, on the bottom row, have straight blade edges and rounded points. They all have heavily ground bases and were resharpened one or more times. The point located second from the right is from Iowa all the other points were found in Illinois. The point in the center is the largest of the five. It is made of Avon chert and measures 6 15/16 inches (17.6 cm) long, 2 15/16 inches (7.5 cm) wide and 3/8 inch (9 mm) wide.

    Thebes points are found over a wide area in the central United States. They are reported from Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan.


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THEBES POINT
"CACHE VARIETY"
PEORIA COUNTY, ILLINOIS

EARLY ARCHAIC
PRIVATE COLLECTION

   This is the largest Cache variety Thebes point in this collection and it represents a classic example for the type. This one has a concave base that is heavily ground, large rectangular notches and a rounded point. This Thebes point has straight blade edges, that are only slightly beveled towards the tip of the point, which indicates it may have been resharpened at least once. This Thebes point appears to be made of Avon chert. It measures 6 15/16 inches (17.6 cm) long, 2 15/16 inches (7.5 cm) wide and 3/8 inch (9 mm) wide.

    There are many different types and styles of stone knives and spear points. Some of them were better designed than others. One example of a good design are Table Rock points that, more-often-then-not, seem to be found unbroken. Thebes points, on the other hand, were prone to breakage at their narrow necks. Greg Perino writes that "It's weakest point is in the neck of the stem. Large blades without stems are often found in the fields."


THEBES POINT
"CACHE VARIETY"
MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS

EARLY ARCHAIC
PRIVATE COLLECTION

   This Cache variety Thebes point is beveled from one or more resharpenings and still retains much of its length. Very large percussion flake scars can be seen on its surface. The tip of the point is also rounded and has not yet been resharpened to a point. The base is concave and heavily ground. This Thebes point is made of Burlington chert and measures 5 15/16 inches (15.1 cm) long and 2 3/4 inches (7 cm) wide. This point is illustrated on page 17 in a 1971 "Central States Archaeological Journal."

    Thebes points were made by percussion flaking. They were flaked into broad flattened blades. Their width to thickness ratio (W/T) ranges from 5/1 to as thin as 8/1.
    Greg Perino writes that Thebes points generally range in size from just under 2 inches (5 cm) to 6 1/4 inches (16 cm) long. But larger examples are known in collections.


THEBES POINT
"CACHE VARIETY"
ADAMS COUNTY, ILLINOIS

EARLY ARCHAIC
PRIVATE COLLECTION

   This Cache variety Thebes point has been extensively resharpened and is steeply beveled. The edges are serrated and still fairly sharp. The base of this point is straight and heavily ground. The notches are large and rectangular and very well done. This point measures 4 9/16 inches (11.5 cm) long and 2 13/16 inches (7.1 cm) wide.

    Thebes points are visually impressive stone tools. Their wide form and deep notches draw your attention. The people who made them, thousands of years ago, were using them as basic utilitarian objects and would have viewed them in a different perspective than we do today. Today, we weight and measure them and discuss how they were manufactured. But they really are fun to look at, especially the large and complete examples illustrated here.

"REFERENCES"

1971, Perino, Gregory, "Guide to the Identification of Certain American Indian Projectile Points," "Special Bulletin No. 4 of the Oklahoma Anthropological Society," pp. 96-97.
1971
,
1971 "Central States Archaeological Journal," Vol. 18 No. 1 (illustration),  p. 17.
1975
, Chapman, Carl H., "The Archaeology of Missouri, I," p. 147.
1985
, Perino, Gregory, Selected Preforms, Points and Knives of the North American Indians, Vol. I," "Ramey Knives,"  pp. 376-378.
1987, Justice, Noel D., "Stone Age Spear and Arrow Points, of the Midcontinental and Eastern United States," Thebes Cluster, Thebes," pp. 54-56.
1987, Waldorf, D.C. & Waldorf, Valerie,  "Story In Stone, Flint Types of the Central and Southern U.S.," pp. 82-90.
1998, O'Brien, Michael J. & Wood, W. Raymond , "The Prehistory of Missouri," p. 133.

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