Projectile point · Paleoindian
Cumberland
10500–9500 BCE
The Cumberland point is a fluted lanceolate of the Tennessee and Cumberland river valleys and the Ohio Valley, dating to about 10,500 to 9,500 BCE and often regarded as a regional successor to Clovis. It was made on high-quality Fort Payne and similar cherts. Whole examples are scarce and the type is a prize in Southeastern collections.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 10500–9500 BCE |
| Period | Paleoindian |
| Regions | North America — Southeast, North America — Eastern Woodlands |
Diagnostic traits
Long fluted lanceolate with a constricted waist and flaring basal ears; flutes often reach the tip.
Identification
Cumberland has a constricted waist above flaring basal ears and flutes that commonly run the full length of the face, unlike Clovis with its parallel sides and short flutes. Its section is thick and lenticular, and the lower edges are heavily ground. Barnes points in the Great Lakes are similar but smaller with a fishtail base.
Reproductions and fakes
Reproductions imitate the waisted outline and full flutes, but the fluting is difficult and fakes often show a single crude channel with hinge terminations. Look for the uniform patination of genuine Fort Payne chert and grinding worn into the ears rather than filed on.
Elsewhere
- Wikidata: Q5193989
- Wikipedia: Cumberland point
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Cumberland" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/cumberland. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-cumberland,
title = {Cumberland},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/cumberland}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, wikidata. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.