The Snyders point, often referred to as the Snyder's Corner
Notched, is a prehistoric chipped stone projectile point that is found in parts
of Minnesota, as well as other parts of the Midwest. The Snyders point type was
named by Edward G. Scully in 1951 for the Snyders Hopewell site in Calhoun
County, Illinois.
The Snyders point is associated with the Trempealeau Phase of the Middle Woodland culture around 200 B.C. to 200 A.D. They are distributed throughout the Midwest, can be found along the Mississippi river valleys, northern Illinois, southeastern Michigan, eastern Missouri, Iowa, Indiana, northwestern Arkansas, and southeastern Kansas. They can be found in some parts of southern Wisconsin, but it is rare.
It is believed that the preform of the Snyders point is the North blade. The Snyders Point is a Middle Woodland Hopewellian culture artifact.
Shape/Description
The Snyders point is a medium to large sized, ovate, corner
notched, expanding stemmed dart point or blade which was carefully made and
usually of high quality workmanship. The points are thin, with broad flake
scars. Synders points range from 2 to 6 inches in length and 2 to 4 inches in
width. They have distinctive round, corner notches on an ovate perform. They
have convex lateral edges with long, barbed shoulders that project downward.
The short expanding stems have straight or slightly convex basal edges and
concave side edges. Grinding may or may not be present on the basal edges.
Maximum width is just above the stem, which is often also the area of maximum
thickness.
Many Snyders points are made of white or light colored cherts from quarries in Missouri or Illinois. Most specimens found in Indiana and Illinois are made from Burlington flint. Many Snyders points that are found in southern Indiana and western Ohio are made of Harrison County, Indiana, grey flint.
Flaking
Snyders points are marked by a high degree of workmanship rarely seen on contemporaneous, locally-made Saugeen points. As few as five or six broad, flat bificial thinning flakes are removed from each lateral edge to finish the preform. The corner notch is produced by removal of one thick, round flake from the lower corner of each lateral edge. Marginal pressure retouch is discontinuous on the blade; more extensive retouch is used to finish the lower barbs and base. Specimens with edge beveling may be resharpened points, and limited grinding or rubbing sometimes occurs on the base.
Comparison
The Manker Corner Notched is a point that is similar to the Snyders Corner Notched. Manker points were found in a Snyders site but have different characteristics. Manker points are usually less refined, with roughly flaked blades that are thicker than the Snyders. Another major difference between these two points is that the Snyders generally have large corner notches and Mankers tend to have more stemmed or open notches.
References:
Snyders Points http://yoda.sscl.uwo.ca/assoc/oas/points/snyders.html
Point type: Snyders http://members.aol.com/artgumbus/snyders.html
Snyders Corner Notched
Author: Jessica Manthei