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LOWE POINTS
LATE ARCHAIC
NORTHERN BELIZE
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COPYRIGHT
JUNE
30, 2014 PETER A. BOSTROM
All of the points illustrated in this
picture are reported to be from Belize and fit the typological
definition of Lowe points. Kelly's type description of Lowe points
in 1993 was done with a very few examples. In fact, one account
reports there were only 15 known examples in the year 2000. In the
above picture, numbers 1, 2, 5, &
6 were illustrated in Kelly's 1993 description of Lowe points.
Numbers 1, 2 & 6 are reported to have been found on the Lowe Ranch,
where the name for this point type originates.
Most of the points
illustrated here have fairly long end-thinning flakes. In fact,
Kelly describes them as "flake scars that are indistinguishable from
flute scars." Although not many Lowe points have been found, they
seem to tend towards massive barbs, very wide blades and straight
parallel sided stems. Kelly describes Lowe points as resharpened
with parallel "oblique" flaking that leaves sharp serrated edges but
oblique angle flaking does not appear on all of them.
Most examples of Lowe points are heavily patinated with
off-white and yellow colors. Freshly broken points show the
patination continues through the center, indicating a probable greater age than the area's more recent Maya
culture stone
tools.
The Lowe points illustrated here are made of Colha chert. The longest point, in
the second row, measures 3 3/4 inches (9.5 cm) long. Its massive
stem measures 1 3/8 inches (3.5 cm) wide. The widest point in this
group measures 2 3/8 inches (6 cm) wide. Three of the
points also have impact fracture damage on their points (distal
ends).
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