Object Record
Images
Metadata
Accession # |
2003.6.16 |
Item Name |
Point, Projectile Tool, First Nations |
Description |
A grey Onondaga flint projectile point with side notches. The projectile point has a bifurcated base. |
Provenance |
The projectile point was part of the Albert S. Petrie Collection, that was collected by Mr. Petrie through the first half of the 20th century. He retrieved over 80 artifacts while ploughing his property on the 5th concession, lot 4, of West Garafraxa Twp. "The farm is four miles due east of Fergus" and according to a 1951 article by Fergus News Express editor Hugh Templin the artifacts may offer proof of a First Nation site on the property. The donor of the collection is the daughter-in-law of Hugh Templin. The Petrie Collection was given to Hugh Templin in 1951 by the executor of Albert S. Petrie's estate because, according to Templin's article, Templin "has long been interested in local history. It is planned to keep it intact so that if a museum is ever started here, Mr. Petrie's collection may be available." With Hugh Templin's death, the collection was handed over to his son Peter Templin. Peter died circa 1995 and his widow has now donated the collection to WCMA. In 1951 the Petrie farm was owned by Mr. & Mrs. Wilfred Hughes. Its current occupants are not yet known. Dr. Bill Fitzgerald (March 2005) identified this piece by its notched sides and serrated edges as very early Archaic or possibly paleoIndian. A similar dating he gave to 2003.6.17. "Lithics-Net: A Glossary Of Lithics Terminology" (http://members.aol.artgumbus/glossary.html) was used to help describe the First Nations stone tools. A photocopy of projectile shapes is with the gift form. A bifurcated base on a projectile point is when there is a central notch splitting the stem into the form of two ears. Flint is a quartz with a high silica content that produces a conchoidal fracture when chipped. Since flint is so hard and even-grained it was used in the manufacturing of early stone tools. Impure flint is known as chert, which varies widely in texture, colour, grain and knapping characteristics. Flint comes in many colours from white, black, grey, tan, brown, olive, blue and mottled combinations. A photocopy of the 1951 article written by Hugh Templin and a map from the book "Fergus: Looking Back Volume 1 (page 6)" is with the gift form. Information that pertains to the West Garafraxa land abstract is also with the gift form. |
Person \ Organization |
Petrie, Albert |
Place |
West Garafraxa Twp. |