Cortaro Points and the Archaic of Southern Arizona

Abstract

ABSTRACTA new Archaic projectile point style, the Cortaro point, is introduced and described. Its morphology, manufacturing technology and distribution are documented, and it is shown to be a morphologically and technologically consistent point style. Available data indicate that it is limited to southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Temporal data for the Cortaro point are presented and suggest that it may be of late Middle or Late Archaic age. Cortaro points may, therefore, prove to be useful temporal markers and may constitute yet another projectile point style in use in the southern Southwest during the Archaic period. The cultural implications of Cortaro points are explored, and four hypotheses are presented for consideration by researchers.