The Serrated Points of Central California

Extract

Serrated edges, and wonderful chipping techniques, are commonly displayed on chipped stone objects of the Pacific Coast region from California to British Columbia, but the greatest ultimate perfection of serration obtains in the so-called Stockton type points, peculiar to the delta and flood plain region near the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. The distribution of these specialized forms seems to approximately conform with this great flood plain, which is, generally speaking, not much above sea-level. This area was called by the early Spaniards the “Tulares,” because a great part of it was an impenetrable swamp, covered by a rank growth of tule reeds.