
SIZE: Measured points range from ca. 50-95 mm in length mean 68.4), 20-37 mm in width (mean 26.9), 6-8.5 mm in thickness (mean 7.6) and 19 to 32 in basal width (mean 26.1). Basal concavities tend to be deep (2-8.5; mean 4.9).
SHAPE: Gainey points lack fishtails. Although the lateral basal edges can expand slightly from the base to a maximum width around mid-point, the points are essentially parallel-sided. The points are relatively wide but are somewhat thick (width to thickness ratios ca. 3-4 to 1). Cross-sections are of a marked biconvex form.
FLAKING: Flaking is very similar to that for Barnes points given elsewhere in this series, including: parallel-collateral retouch; a tendency for single, long, parallel sided flute removals, the presence of the Barnes finishing technique and so on. Lateral basal edges are very heavily ground such that in some cases, and in plan views, a distinct “insetting” (almost a shoulder) is formed at the juncture of the ground and unground areas.
RAW MATERIAL: Although some Gainey points are known on Collingwood chert, most of this type tend to be on “southern” cherts including Onondaga from Ontario and Upper Mercer, Flint Ridge and Tenmile Creek chert from Ohio.
DISTRIBUTION: These points definitely occur throughout southern Ontario, southern Michigan and northern Ohio. Their distribution beyond this area is unknown.
AGE AND CULTURAL AFFILIATIONS: No C-14 dates are available for Gainey points. They are guess-dated to slightly more recent than 11,000 years ago.
REMARKS: The type site for these points is the Gainey site in south-central Michigan investigated by Don Simons (1984). No major sites have yet to be located or excavated in Ontario. Formerly these points were referred to as Bull Brook points in the Great Lakes region (Roosa 1965).
