Yuma points, or Eden Points were first identified in Yuma, Colorado. Yuma, Colorado is located in the northeast corner of the state. However, the points are also found in such areas as Wyoming, Nebraska and Montana. Yuma points were first used from 10,000 to 5000 BP (before present) by the Late Paleo-Indian hunting culture of the western Great Plains. They are fluted, lanceolate points with parallel-oblique flaking and were used to hunt Bison and other large herd animals. They had a grounded, lower blade edge, and straight to concave base. They are the most numerous Paleo-Indian point style found today.

The Yuma or Eden projectile points were made by crudely knapping (chipping) flakes of stone off until the desired shape was formed. After this process, the edges were given a finer knapping.There were two styles of Yuma or Eden projectile points. One style was long and lanceolated. The other was called a fishtail Yuma point. This was more common in North Dakota and had an auriculated shape.

They were usually made of flint, which is a high quality quartz called chalcedony. Chalcedony or flint is harder than surgical steel scalpels. It may be translucent or milky in color or even pinkish, tan or gray. At sites where the higher quality materials, flint or chalcedony, are not readily found, a low quality quartz, also called chert, was substituted for the manufacturing of the points. Quartz of various grades is found all over North America. The Yuma style projectile point or Eden points, were occasionally made of other material, such as obsidian, petrified wood, agate and jasper.

These projectile points are alsocalled lance points, because hey were attached to a light lance or javelin. Generally, lance points are heavier, wider, longer and thicker than arrowheads. The shaft of the lance was about 4 ½ to 6 ½ inches long and ½ inch in diameter. They were propelled by an Atlatl, which was a hand launcher and allowed the lance to travel farther. The launcher magnified the throwing force by 50 to 65 percent. The Yuma point is sometimes confused with the Scottsbluff Point, which is very similar. However, the Yuma point precedes the Scottsbluff. The Yuma or Eden Point is part of the Cody Complex, a classification which includes the Alberta, Scottsbluff, Hell Gap, Agate Basin and Kersey Points. There is some speculation that they are all part of the same group, with variations due to later re-sharpening by later people. The overall shape of them is similar, with facial flaking, parallel sides, small shoulders if any, and a cross section which is a thick oval or diamond shape. It may be a sign of a more specialized tool kit. There is an indication that these points were all used in split-stem and socket hafts. This may be the why the reason these points are confused with each other. It could also explain why several types are found at one site.

Reported by Jimmilee Miller Nov. 18, 1999 Field Guide to Flint Arrowheads and Knives of the North American Indian Lawrence N. Tully and Steven N. Tully 1998. Collector Books, Schroeder Publishing Co.

Arrowheads and Stone Artifacts. C. G. Yeager. 1986 Pruett Publishing Co.

Arrowheads and Projectile Points Lar Hothem 1999 Collector Books, Schroeder Publishings Co.

Ice Age Hunters of the Rockies Dennis J. Stanford and Jane S. Day 1992 Denver Museum of Natural History and University Press of Colorado

The Prehistory of Colorado and Adjacent Areas Tammy Stone. 1999 University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City

The Colorado Archeological Society, Fort Collins Chapter -phone calls and e-mail to Marian Weisser , VP.

Bibliography:

http://www.cc.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/manarchnet/chronology/paleoindian/western.html Western Plano

http://www.ucalgary.ca/HIST/tutor/calgary/weapons.html

http://www.crai-ky.com/ prehistory and history

http://www.adamsheritage.on.ca/pre/preont1a.htm the prehistory of Ontario

http://www.umanitoba.ca/anthropology/Manitoba/paleo.html

http://www.pclink.com/cbailey/lithic1.html projectile points of Minnesota

http://www.cc.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/manarchnet/chronology/paleoindian/western.html Plano Indians

Written by: Jimmilee Miller