The Cumberland Point was a common Paleoindian projectile point in North America, and is always found east of the Mississippi River. They are very similar to other types of Paleoindian points such as the Clovis, Folsom and Quad Traditions. There have been no absolute dates associated with Cumberland Points,

The projectile point was knapped out of chert, which was a hard rock that could be chipped away by using harder rocks and/or antlers to make razor sharp edges. These points were manufactured with barbs at the base and fluted from the tip to the base. It was designed to remain inside the body of the animal, possibly to allow for easy recovery of the point. Cumberland Points were most likely utilized at the end of a small arrow and placed in an atlatl. An atlatl was a throwing stick that functioned as an extension of the forearm. It allowed Paleoindians to hunt game from further away because it increased the amount of force in which the projectile struck the game, making it much easier to bring down an animal.

Sources

Bostrom, Peter A. (edited by Richard Michael Gramly). "The Phil Stratton Cumberland Site, Logan County, Kentucky." August 2005. http://www.lithiccastinglab.com/gallery-pages/2005septemberphilstrattonsitepage1.htm

National Park Service. "The Paleoindian Period." http://www.nps.gov/history/seac/paleoind.htm

Peck, Rodney M. "Cumberland Fluted Points from Kentucky and Tennessee." http://csasi.org/2003_fall_journal/cumberland_fluted_points_from_kentucky_and_tennessee.htm

Written by Matt Lutgen

Edited by Emily Hildebrant, 2007