Projectile point · Early Archaic
Palmer
8000–7000 BCE, Archaic (Eastern)
Palmer was named by Coe in 1964 from the Hardaway site in Stanly County, North Carolina, after nearby Palmer Mountain, and sits between Hardaway and Kirk in the Carolina sequence. It is one of the most widespread Early Archaic points of the East, from Florida to Pennsylvania and west to the Mississippi. Rhyolite, quartz and chert are all common. Collectors have plenty of small examples; large unresharpened ones are uncommon.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 8000–7000 BCE |
| Period | Early Archaic |
| Cultures | Archaic (Eastern) |
| Regions | North America — Southeast, North America — Eastern Woodlands |
Diagnostic traits
Small corner-notched point with a straight, ground base, a serrated triangular blade, sharp barbs and a relatively thick cross-section.
Identification
Palmer is separated from Kirk Corner Notched mainly by its smaller size and ground base; Kirk bases are unground. Charleston is larger and thinner. Pine Tree has a longer, more strongly serrated recurved blade.
Reproductions and fakes
Small, cheap and rarely faked; misidentified resharpened Kirks are the real problem. Genuine Palmers show basal grinding and rhyolite weathering.
Elsewhere
- Wikidata: Q2332224
- Wikipedia: Palmer Point
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Palmer" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/palmer. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-palmer,
title = {Palmer},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/palmer}},
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.