SIZE: Length = 34-68 mm (mean of 51.6); Width = 16-26 mm 21.6); Thickness = 3-7 mm (4.9); Basal Width = 14-27 mm (18.8); Basal Thinning Length = 4-29 mm (14.9).

SHAPE: Like Crowfield points described elsewhere in this series (KEWA 84-5.5), these points have maximum width at or above mid- point, exhibit shallow (< 4.5 mm) basal concavities, have small ears and lack fishtails. Unlike Crowfield points, they never exhibit a shoulder on one lateral edge, exhibit lateral edges which expand less markedly from the base, frequently have plano-convex cross-sections, are narrower and more elongated in appearance and are never pentagonal in outline shape, having smoothly convex lateral edges.

FLAKING: Surface flaking consists of a shallow, narrow, parallel to collateral, unpatterned retouch which does not consistently terminate at the mid-line. A short, abrupt, unifacial retouch is applied to shape the basal concavity and, often, to round the basal corners. Bases are thinned by short, often multiple, contracting to parallel-sided to expanding flake removals. Lateral basal edges and basal concavities are lightly ground.

RAW MATERIAL: Holcombe points are known to have been made from Bayport, Tenmile Creek, Onondaga, Upper Mercer and Kettle Point cherts.

DISTRIBUTION: These points definitely occur in southern Ontario and Michigan, northern Ohio and north-western Pennsylvania.

AGE AND CULTURAL AFFILIATION: Holcombe points are guess-dated to ca. 10,400 to 10,000 B.P.

REMARKS: The type site for Holcombe points is the Holcombe site in south-eastern Michigan (Fitting et al 1966). Only a few small sites and isolated finds are known in Ontario. Holcombe points are probably the earliest unfluted point type to appear in our area. They are intermediate in form and technology (and presumably age) between Crowfield and Hi-Lo points, and closely resemble Midland/Plainview points of the western United States.

REFERENCE:Ellis, C. – 1987 Holcombe Points. KEWA 87-7.