"A Collector's Guide to Florida Greenbrier Arrowhead Typology" 

Suggested Florida Cultural Chain: Clovis-Middle (Muleshoe) Clovis-Ross County Clovis-Suwannee-Union-Greenbrier-Gilchrist-Big Sandy-Bolen.  This is a rare & very old (Transpaleo) type.  It has been reported by a reliable source that a Union point was recovered underwater in close association with the remains of an extinct (fossil) elephant in a river in North Central Florida!  Their is also a Florida Greenbrier point that is lodged in the skull of an extinct (fossil) Bison that is on exhibit in the Florida Museum of Natural History!  

The Greenbrier Point was named by T.M.N. Lewis in 1958 for examples which were recovered from the Nuckolls' site in the Greenbrier area of Kentucky Lake, Tennessee. 

Greenbrier as a type is especially significant as examples of this type are the first to regularly bear clearly chipped (as opposed to ground) hafting notches which represents a "significant" tool technology innovation -side notching!  This (at the time) "new" technology is now considered to represent the period of transition (Transpaleo) from Paleolithic to Protoarchaic lifeways.  The most recent published scientific data suggests a placement of between 11,250 YBP-9,750 YBP for Greenbriers and also observes that Greenbrier as a type was produced no later than 9,500 years ago! 

Greenbrier points can be described as medium to large sized, side notched, auriculate points with convex blades.  The tip is broad and the stem is expanding.  Like other early point types the hafting area (including shoulders and base) is ground.  Greenbriers are often basally thinned.  This treatment is as a rule well executed and subtle causing some examples to appear to be fluted.  Notching can range from shallow to deep producing shoulders that can be tapered to quite prominent.  True Greenbriers exhibit "bifacial" beveling (also known as paleo resharpening) and are not alternately beveled (for example) like the Big Sandy and Bolen types.  Resharpened examples are thus bi-convex in profile and blades generally remain convex throughout the life of the blade.  Greenbrier points are commonly made of attractive and durable Coastal Plains chalcedony and agate with varying degrees of translucency. 

Their exists significant variation within this type (consisting of different basal treatments) and subtypes (as well as varieties) have been noted.  Including (for sake of simplicity): Greenbrier (a classic auriculate), Greenbrier- Type II (a blade that retains it's basal thinning nipple) and a subtype, "Osceola" Greenbrier (which might be assumed to be a late variant), named by Dr. Jarl Malwin that is observed to have more prominent "notching" and on occasion very well formed lobes that are rounded or squared. 

Greenbrier points are quite uncommon if not actually rare and constitute but a small percentage of the known archeological record.  Although examples exist in collections and are available for comparative analysis their seems to be a lack of published scientific data on the exact age, distribution or number of varieties which exist within this type.  It undoubtedly remains the responsibility of both avocationals and professionals to assist in the reconstruction of this culture in order to contribute to the fund of cultural knowledge for future generations. 

Well executed examples of Greenbriers are appreciated if not prized by some collectors of early stone age technology and represent an excellent value. 

 -*If you have found this guide helpful please check the box marked "yes" below! 

Thank you and "Enjoy Collecting!"