Snyders
Date Range: 200 BCE - 50 CE
Dimensions: Snyders points range from 35-95 mm in length, 30-60 mm in width, and 7-11 mm in thickness.
Shape: Snyders points have broad lanceolate to extremely convex triangular blades with round corner-notches. These points have convex lateral edges with long, barbed shoulders, and short expanding stems with a straight or slightly convex basal edge. Cross-sections are generally plano-convex, although lenticular specimens occur.
Flake Pattern: Snyders points are marked by a high degree of workmanship. As few as five or six broad, flat bifacial thinning flakes are removed from each lateral edge to finish the preform. The corner notch is produced by removal of one thick, round flake from the lower corner of each lateral edge. Limited grinding or rubbing sometimes occurs on the base.
Material: Snyders points are found on Upper Mercer chert, Flint Ridge chalcedony, and Onondaga, Ancaster, Haldimand, and Selkirk cherts.
Distribution and Cultural Affiliation: Snyders points or similar variants are occasionally found over much of south-western Ontario, frequencies increase near Lakes Erie and St. Clair.
Notes: Limited numbers of related bifaces (often reaching extravagant lengths and widths) were imported to Ontario from Hopewellian craftspeople in the earlier stages of the Middle Woodland period. These bifaces were likely valued status or ceremonial objects, while Snyders points represent a more utilitarian aspect of this developing north-south interaction.
References: Murphy, C. – 1988 Snyders Points. KEWA 88-3.