Observations on the age, distribution, and attributes of the Matanzas point type

In this article, we employ post-processual concepts of "communities of practice" and "chaine-operatoire" to examine the Matanzas point type. We conclude that Matanzas points, as originally defined by Munson and Harn (1966), represent a very distinctly manufactured, hafted biface tool tradition, with well-defined metric and nonmetric traits. In the 1970s, this projectile point type definition was expanded, potentially making it a less useful cultural indicator. Based on the reported age and distribution of Matanzas points throughout the Midwest, evidence of distantly related social groupings and population movement and dispersal are posited.