Idaho National Laboratory Cultural Resource Management Plan

Research Question—What is the age of other stemmed points in the study area?
There are numerous other styles of stemmed point styles reported to have been found in southern
Idaho (e.g., Haskett, Birch Creek, Silver Lake, Alberta, and Scottsbluff points). Many of these styles are
believed to have been made during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, while some clearly date much
later. Some researchers (e.g., Bryan 1980) argue that some varieties of stemmed points date as early as or
earlier than fluted points (11,000–10,000 B.P.) and others sustain until 5000 B.P. or even more recently.
Some characteristics seem to segregate the earlier from the later varieties (e.g., basal grinding), but only
well-dated examples will provide the answer. Several stemmed points have been recovered from INL, and
there seems to be great potential for understanding their temporal meaning through careful research.
Data Requirements: Any site with stemmed points, especially if there is some potential for dating
the age of manufacture (e.g., fire hearths).
Research Question—What is the age of the large side-notched point in the study area?
Of all of the point styles common to the upper Snake River Basin, the temporal meaning of certain
varieties of large side-notched points (e.g., Northern or Bitterroot Side-Notched points) is probably the
best understood (7300 to 4400 B.P.). Other varieties, however, are not so well documented. Those
specimens that exhibit a very low notch, such as the Besant and Blue Dome styles, appear to date to a
later period (1300 to 3300 B.P.); however, this conclusion awaits further well-controlled data. Numerous
points of the low-notch variety have been recovered from INL, and the area clearly has potential to
understand their temporal similarities and differences with the high-notch variety.
Data Requirements: Any site with large side-notched points, especially with a potential for a datable
context.
Research Question—What is the age of the large corner-notched point in the study area?
Large corner-notched points, known as Elko corner-notched in the Great Basin and as Pelican Lake in
the northern plains, commonly occur in contexts dating between 1000 and 3300 years ago over vast areas
west of the Mississippi River. Earlier, yet morphologically indistinguishable varieties occur in some areas
of the Desert West (e.g., the Bonneville Basin) as early as 8000 B.P. In the upper Snake River Basin, a
few specimens have been found in a pre-3300 B.P. context, but the majority seems to occur after that
time. The presence of a few specimens in the early context suggests that the longer sequence of the
Bonneville Basin might be applicable to INL, yet their paucity in contexts dating earlier than 4000 B.P.
may indicate that excavation error or stratigraphic mixing might be the culprit. Since large corner-notched
points are the most common style of point found at INL, it is imperative that additional data about their
age be collected.
Data Requirements: Any site with datable material that contains large corner-notched points.
Research Question—What is the age of the small corner-notched point in the study area?
Throughout the American West, the replacement of large corner-notched points by small
corner-notched points (locally called Rose Spring Corner-Notched points) in the archaeological record
signifies the adoption of the bow and arrow replacing the atlatl and dart as the principal hunting
technology. This appears to have occurred in the upper Snake River Basin between approximately 1500–
1300 years ago. Although the date of introduction of the style is of interest, the termination date of use of
the style is of greater importance to understanding the prehistory of the area. In most areas of the Desert
West, the small corner-notched points are replaced by small side-notched points between 1000 and 600
years ago. But the pattern in the upper Snake River Basin appears different: small corner-notched points
seem to continue until historic times with small side-notched points being added to the repertory of styles
made by the more recent inhabitants. Knowing if the small corner-notched points were still being made
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