NOTCHED STEM BIFACE
SPIRO MOUND SITE

LE FLORE CO., OKLAHOMA
MISSISSIPPIAN PERIOD
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COPYRIGHT MARCH 31, 2011 PETER A. BOSTROM

     This is one of the finest flaked but most peculiarly shaped bifaces that was found during the excavation of Craig Mound. The biface was impressively shaped and thinned with skillfully done percussion flaking on both sides and fine pressure flaking along the edges. The quality and style of flaking on this biface compares to some Ramey knives from Cahokia. The material is good quality chert that hasn't been positively identified yet. The "exotic" style of this biface does not conform to any known established point type. The base has a notched stem instead of a rounded or pointed base like most bifaces from the Spiro Caddoan region. At least one other example of these odd biface types was found in Craig Mound which is illustrated by Hamilton. Although only half of the point was found it measures 7 inches (17.8 cm) long, 3 1/4 inches (8.3 cm) wide and 5/16 inch (7.5 mm) thick. This biface measures 8 1/2 inches (21.6 cm) long.

PHOTO OF BIFACE CREDIT, CHRIS MERRIAM

Notched stem biface from Craig Mound, Spiro.

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