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FLUTED POINT
DUTCHESS QUARRY CAVE #1
ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK
COPYRIGHT
DECEMBER 31, 2013 PETER A. BOSTROM
CAST ILLUSTRATED
CAST
#P-114
FLUTED POINT
DUTCHESS QUARRY, CAVE #1
ORANGE COUNTY, NEW YORK
This Cumberland-type fluted point was
the first of six fluted points recovered from the complex of caves
located on lookout Mountain in Orange County, New York. The escarpment
rises 260 feet above a post-glacial lake of the terminal Wisconsin
period. Originally excavated by the Orange County Chapter in 1965-67,
the area is now a registered National Historic Landmark.
This point is fully fluted on both faces and is ground
smooth on the lower edges and base. It is skillfully fashioned of
Kalkberg chert and the edges have been expertly retouched. The point was
covered on both faces by white lime crust, one side of which was removed
for photography. This crust is due to the location of the caves in a
formation of dolomitic limestone of the Ordovician period.
This Cumberland-type point was recovered well outside
the usual geographic range of the type and very rare in this region
where the Clovis-type predominates. This is a cast of the first fluted
point reported from a northeastern cave or rockshelter. It measures 2
5/16 inches long.
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