SIZE: These points range in length from 24-55 mm, width 12-22 mm and thickness 3-7 mm, while the range of breadth between notches is 5-12 mm.

SHAPE: Both lateral edges are usually convex, but may be straight or concave, depending on re-sharpening. Basal edge configuration ranges from convex to concave and cross-sections are lenticular bi-convex. The side notches can vary from deep and narrow to the shallow and wide variants characteristic of many late specimens. Nanticoke Notched points are simply side notched isosceles triangular preforms.

FLAKING: Irregular complete bifacial flaking characterizes the majority of these points; however, same examples display total secondary retouch over one face and only edge retouch on the other.

RAW MATERIAL: Onondaga chert is the predominant raw material, however a number of specimens were manufactured of Kettle Point chert.

DISTRIBUTION: Nanticoke Notched points are distributed throughout south-western Ontario. They have been found as far east as the St. Lawrence valley and Jefferson County, New York, and occur commonly as far north as the south shore of Georgian Bay.

AGE AND CULTURAL AFFILIATIONS: This point form was in use among Ontario Iroquoian groups from c. 1400 – 1550 A.D. The vast majority were manufactured by prehistoric Neutral craftsmen, often at Onondaga chert outcrops workshop sites, and some appear to have been produced “in house” on the Parsons and Draper Southern Division Huron villages. Nanticoke Notched points have been recorded on many prehistoric Northern Division Huron – Ridley’s (1952) Lalonde points – and some St. Lawrence Iroquois villages, as well as south-western Ontario, such as the Weiser village (Fox, 1980).

REMARKS: It is not unusual to find these bifaces reworked as drills and it may be that future wear analysis will show these points to have had a wider range of functions than the contemporary Nanticoke Triangular form.

REFERENCE: Fox, W.A. – 1981 Nanticoke Notched Points. KEWA 81-3. ( Text of Original Publication )