ALASKAN 

(Iņupiat, Siberian-Yupik Eskimo)

 

BEAR POINTS

Bear Point types are primarily found along the Western and Northern Alaskan Coast and into the Northern Interior (North Slope). They are occasionally found on St. Lawrence Island where these were most likely traded in.

 

Origin of the "Bear Arrow Point"

Click here for Abstract

First Identified in the Ninth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology

to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution

1887-'88

 

Addition Reading

Note: This is a PDF

Point Barrow Chert Arrowpoints from the Eskimo of Northwestern Alaska

by John Witthoft

 

 

The size of "Bear" Points and its variants will vary from

(Under 2" to  3"- 4")

The smaller points generally have to some degree horizontal transverse flaking.

The lack of it may be due to the continual re-sharpening from impact fracturing

While I've seen some that are randomly flaked it is not very common

The larger projectiles it is quite common to see the sided with horizontal transverse flaking. 

Towards the base you may see a slight curvature. These may be knife forms.

Stems are usually parallel sided. Base may be rounded, square or snapped.

Note: Difference in flaking style:

Right: A more controlled horizontal traverse style of flaking and to the left is more random, This may result when a very large point is damaged and is being re-tipped or found by a later group and reworked

 

 

Cultural affiliation: Old Bering Sea to Birnirk 3000 - 1500 B.P.

On mainland Alaska this Projectile may date back to 5-6000 BP.

 

The dating of this point on St. Lawrence Island has been difficult to do. The Yupuks /Eskimo have maintained subsistence

digging for at least 300+ years and have almost obliterated the archaeological record of their Island. 

Also when these points wash out of old village sites which have been located along the coast when found,

 they most likely would have been re-used, further confusing the archaeological record.

 

These points were normally inserted into a bone, antler or ivory shaft
 and were used in hunting Walrus, Seals, Caribou plus other large animals.
Tribal warfare was also common.

 

Some of these Artifacts were excavated by the local inhabitants of St. Lawrence Island.
During the 1930's through 1990's Many sites were excavated and the material (Ivory) that was found was

 sold to Non-Native Buyers.
Mr. Hunter told me that the local natives would dig everything and then line up at buying/selling stations and sell everything. Many thousands of pounds of fossilized Ivory came from these sites.

Unfortunately this type of non-scientific digging lead to the destruction of many fine potential Archaeological sites.
 

The artifacts contained in my website were excavated or collected near the following areas :

St. Michael, Norton Sound, Point Hope, Pt Barrow, St. Lawrence Island
Hotham Inlet, Unalakleet, Shaktoolik, Nubviukhchugaluk and other site

 

The majority of these projectiles reside in my collection over the years some have been relocated to other collectors

 

 

KUKI

< 2"

 

Length: 1.653"

Thickness: .256"

Point width: .486"

Base Length: .311"

Base width: .285"

Lithic Comp.: Gray Chert

Length: 1.416"

Thickness: .246"

Point width: .479"

Base Length: .418"

Base width: .325"

Lithic Comp.: Gray Chert

Length: 1.627"

Thickness: .270

Point width: .473"

Base Length: .455"

Base width: ..384"

Lithic Comp.: Gray Chert

*Tip is not broken

Shovel nosed tip

 

 

NUWUKS

2-3"

 

Length: 2.45"

Thickness: .38"

Point width: .75"

Base Length: .38"

Base width: .37"

Lithic Comp.:  Chert

Length: 2.2"

Thickness: .28"

Point width: .71"

Base Length: .40"

Base width: .35"

Lithic Comp.: Grey Chert

Length: 2.0"

Thickness: .26"

Point width: .61"

Base Length: .38"

Base width: .30"

Lithic Comp.: Banded Chert

Length: 2.55"

Thickness: .32"

Point width: .64"

Base Length: .49"

Base width: .28"

Lithic Comp.: Dark Grey Chert

Length: 2.156"

Thickness: .363"

Point width: .677"

Base Length: .506"

Base width: .337"

Lithic Comp.: Black Chert

Length: 2.363"

Thickness: .330"

Width: .674"

Base Length: .383"

Base width: .316"

Lithic Comp.: Black Chalcedony

Length: 2.620"

Thickness: .332"

Point width: .821"

Base Length: .521"

Base width: .341"

Lithic Comp.: Gray Chert

Length:2.689"

Thickness: .350"

Point width: .700"

Base Length: .514"

Base width: .231"

Lithic Comp.: Green w/ Red Streak Chert

Overall Length: 2.5"

Thickness: .36"

Point width: .62"

Base Length: .44"

Base width: .27"

Lithic Comp.: Dark Chalcedony

Overall Length: 2.263"

Thickness: .353"

Point width: .608"

Base Length: .530"

Base width: .313"

Lithic Comp.: Gray Chert

Length: 2.797"

Thickness: .350"

Width: .623"

Base Length: .414"

Base width: .318"

Lithic Comp.: Green/Gray Chert

Length: 2.295"

Thickness: .286"

Point width: .481"

Base Length: .384"

Base width: .247"

Lithic Comp.: Gray Chert

Length: 2.439"

Thickness: .284"

Width: .613"

Base Length: .488"

Base width: .311"

Lithic Comp.: Fired Chert

Overall Length: 2.62"

Thickness: .36"

Point width: .57"

Base Length: .33"

Base width: .29"

Lithic Comp.: Chalcedony
 

 

Bifurcated Base

"A very rare type"

I know of one other and that resides at the National Museum of the American Indian Collection

**Bifurcated Form

Overall Length: 2.63"

Thickness: .36

Point width: .667"

Base Length: .48"

Base width: .35"

Lithic Comp.: Chalcedony

**Bifurcated Form

Overall Length: 2.55"

Thickness: .30"

Point width: .655"

Base Length: .36"

Base width: .29"

Lithic Comp.:Two Toned Chert

 

UTKIAVWIN

2-3" long and very narrow

 

 

From Site: ALM815

Length: 2.8"

Thickness: .26"

Width: .55"

Base Length: .36"

Base width: .27"

Lithic Comp.: Chalcedony

 

Length: 3.5"

Thickness: .31"

Point width: .48"

Base Length: .38"

Base width: .26"

Lithic Comp.: Olive Chert

From Pt Barrow

Birnirk Culture

 

BEAR 3+

Classic Bear Projectile

 

Length: 3.5"

Thickness: .30"

Point width: .74"

Base Length: .58"

Base width: .47"

Lithic Comp.: Chalcedony

Length: 3.41"

Thickness: .35"

Point width: .72"

Base Length: .57"

Base width: .34"

Lithic Comp.: Gray Chert

Length: 3.5"

Thickness: .38"

Point width: .71"

Base Length: .46"

Base width:.34 "

Lithic Comp.: Gray-Green Chert

Length: 3.7"

Thickness: .41"

Point width: 1.0"

Base Length: .56"

Base width: .40"

Lithic Comp.: Black Chert

May be knife form

 

Length: 3.14"

Thickness: .29"

Point width: .76"

Base Length: .57"

Base width: .34"

Lithic Comp.: Black Chert
 

Opposite side showing cortex

 

Length: 3.21"

Thickness: .33"

Point width: .78"

Base Length: .51"

Base width: .40"

Lithic Comp.: Brown Chert

Found : Seward Penn

 

Length: 3.22"

Thickness: .28"

Point width: .65"

Base Length: .66"

Base width: .37"Slightly tapered

Lithic Comp.: Brown Chert

Found : Brevig

Length: 3.36"

Thickness: .30"

Point width: .73"

Base Length: .48"

Base width: .42"

Lithic Comp.: Brown Chert

Found near the Village of Teller

THE KAWERAK DIG-SITE (NOME)

Length: 3.78"

Thickness: .31"

Point width: .83"

Base Length: .43"

Base width: .38"

Lithic Comp.: Black Chert

Found near the Village of Teller

THE KAWERAK DIG-SITE (NOME)

Length: 3.34"

Thickness: .40"

Point width: .80"

Base Length: .45"

Base width: .32"

Lithic Comp.: Black Chert

Found near the Village of Teller

THE KAWERAK DIG-SITE (NOME)

See InSitu Picture Below

Length: 3.63"

Thickness: .36"

Point width: .87"

Base Length: .41"

Base width: .30"

Lithic Comp.: Black Chert

In the grey highlighted circle sits a InSitu picture of the Above Bear Point
   

Length: 4.0"

Thickness: .38"

Point width: .76"

Base Length: .47"

Base width: .32"

Lithic Comp.: Highly Polished

Grey Chert

From Pt Barrow

Birnirk Culture

 

POINT BARROW

 

Length: 3.4"

Thickness: .36"

Point width: .69"

Base Length: .43"

Base width: .34"

Lithic Comp.: Brown Chert

From Pt Barrow

Birnirk Culture

Length: 4.2"

Thickness: .30"

Point width: .78"

Base Length: .46"

Base width: .35"

Lithic Comp.: Dark Grey Banded Chert

From Pt Barrow

Birnirk Culture

This picture shows the original cortex of the above point

 

Length: 2.655"

Thickness: .306"

Width: .650"

Base Length: .427"

Base width: .278"

Lithic Comp.: Blue/Gray Chert

Length: 3.0"

Thickness: .37"

Point width: .76"

Base Length: .58"

Base width: .43"

Lithic Comp.: Light Grey Chert with

Pyrite Inclusions

From Pt Barrow

Birnirk Culture

Lithic Comp.: Light Grey Chert with Pyrite inclusions

 

Overall Length: 2.95"

Thickness: .31"

Point width: .71"

Base Length: .68"

Base width: .48"

Lithic Comp.: Gray Chert

This may be a Ekseavik Point or Hungry_Fox_Point

Overall Length: 2.8"

Thickness: .28"

Point width: .63"

Base Length: .43"

Base width: .32"

Lithic Comp.: Banded Chert

 

UTKIAVIK

 

Length: 2.2"

Thickness: .29"

Point width: .88"

Base width: .37

Contracting Stem

Lithic Comp.:  Black Chert

Length: 1.4"

Thickness: .22"

Point width: .55"

Base width: .35

Lithic Comp.:  Brown Chert

Length: 1.6"

Thickness: .24"

Point width: .73"

Base width: .38

Lithic Comp.:   Chert

 

Ekseavik Point or Hungry_Fox_Point

Length is 2.83"
Width is .8"
Thickness is .3"

This style is typical of late pre-historic and historic period Iņupiaq sites

 and compare well with artifacts recovered from Iņupiaq sites on the Kobuk River, the vicinity of Barrow and across northern Alaska

 (Ford1959, Giddings 1952, Hall 1971, Murdoch1892).

 

Length is 3.2"
Width is .97"
Thickness is .4"

Material: Black Chert

 

 

KAWERAK

Bear Type

Length: 3.1"

Width: .72"

Found near the Village of Teller

THE KAWERAK DIG-SITE (NOME)

 

 

Bear Type

Length: 3.0"

Width: .64"

Found near the Village of Teller

THE KAWERAK DIG-SITE (NOME)

Other Bear Forms

Length: 2.5"

Thickness: .39"

Width: .70"

Base Length: .65"

Base width: .45"-Tapered Stem

Lithic Comp.: Chalcedony

This may be a Unalakeet  Knife Form

Bear Type Needle Stemmed Point

Length: 1.69"

Thickness: .29"

Point width: .52"

Base Length: Snapped"

Base width: .17"

Lithic Comp.:  Chocolate Chert