Cumberland point
Encyclopedia
A Cumberland point is a rare stone projectile point
whose original purpose was that of a hunting
tool
. Attached to a wooden spear
, these heavy points were intended for use as thrusting weapons and employed by various nomadic mid-Paleo Indians
(ca. 10,000 BCE) across North America
in the killing of large game mammals. Noted for their sleek design and rarity, Cumberland points are among the most sought-after, desired, and valuable of all stone artifacts occurring in the present-day United States
.
Projectile point
In archaeological terms, a projectile point is an object that was hafted to a projectile, such as a spear, dart, or arrow, or perhaps used as a knife....
whose original purpose was that of a hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
tool
Tool
A tool is a device that can be used to produce an item or achieve a task, but that is not consumed in the process. Informally the word is also used to describe a procedure or process with a specific purpose. Tools that are used in particular fields or activities may have different designations such...
. Attached to a wooden spear
Spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or...
, these heavy points were intended for use as thrusting weapons and employed by various nomadic mid-Paleo Indians
Paleo Indians
Paleo-Indians or Paleoamericans is a classification term given to the first peoples who entered, and subsequently inhabited, the American continent during the final glacial episodes of the late Pleistocene period...
(ca. 10,000 BCE) across North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
in the killing of large game mammals. Noted for their sleek design and rarity, Cumberland points are among the most sought-after, desired, and valuable of all stone artifacts occurring in the present-day United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.