NYSAA Bulletin No. 52 — Archaic Sites: Croton Point & Dogan Point — Passage 18 (part 2)

[Various (1971)] Knives: The single specimen is bifacially worked but has wear marks only on one edge. It may have been hafted. Utilized flakes: Over 1300 flint flakes were recovered, of which only 15 specimens appeared to have been utilized. ROUGH AND GROUND STONE ARTIFACTS: The following rough and ground stone artifacts were found during the excavation: anvil stones, 10; hammer stones, 10; mortars 8; sinew stones, 4; celt or adze fragments, 4; mullers, 2; choppers, 2; pestles 2; pitted stones, 2; adzes, 1; whetstones, 1; netsinkers, 1. Many of the anvils, mortars, and hammerstones show multiple use from grinding, poundings, and pecking. The one possible netsinker seems significant, considering the proximity of the site to the river. If fishing played a primary role in the exploitative technology, then one would expect to find netsinkers, fish hooks, etc.

Unfortunately the possibility of a technique not based on netting is also possible, but the lack of fish hooks or other fishing equipment seems to invalidate this alternative (remembering that bone preservation is poor). It may well be then, that fishing or shell collecting was an important exploitative technique of which no technological evidence remains. CERAMICS : The ceramic artifacts include 95 pottery vessels, 4 pipes, and 1 flat bottomed object, as yet unidentified. Pottery Vessels: The analysis of the 95 vessels is based on 171 rim sherds and 1895 body sherds.