Projectile point · Early Archaic
Kanawha
6500–6000 BCE, Archaic (Eastern)
Kanawha was defined by Broyles from the St. Albans site as the latest member of the bifurcate sequence, dating to the end of the Early Archaic. It is widespread through the Ohio Valley, the mid-South and the Carolinas on local cherts and Kanawha black flint. Collectors find it unassuming and it is often unrecognised.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 6500–6000 BCE |
| Period | Early Archaic |
| Cultures | Archaic (Eastern) |
| Regions | North America — Eastern Woodlands, North America — Southeast |
Diagnostic traits
Small point with a short, broad stem whose base is only shallowly bifurcated, weak sloping shoulders, an unground haft and a triangular blade that is often serrated.
Identification
Kanawha's bifurcation is shallow and the lobes are rounded, whereas LeCroy is deeply split with squared lobes; its lack of basal grinding separates it from St. Albans. Stanly has a straight-sided stem with a small basal notch and a much broader blade.
Reproductions and fakes
Not reproduced to any extent.
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Kanawha" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/kanawha. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-kanawha,
title = {Kanawha},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/kanawha}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum. 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.