Vosberg

This content was prepared by Hailey Weinberger Rowan Class of 2022

What is Vosberg?

Vosberg is a medium-sized projectile point in a triangular shape with small to medium size notches. Those found in the New York area are often made of Normanskill, Coxsackie, or Deepkill Cherts, meanwhile, those found in Ohio are typically made of Coshocton chert. The projectile point dates to the middle archaic period which ranges from 5,000-4,500 B.P. The point is characterized by its sharp and low-cut corner notches on the triangular preform.

Who Discovered Vosberg?

Dr. William A. Ritchie was a prominent anthropologist and served as the state archeologist in New York. He named the point in 1961 after the Vosberg complex of the Laurentian tradition in Eastern New York. This is the same archeologist that named the Brewton Corner Corner Notch, In the same year he named the Vosberg, 1961, he stated that the projectile point had a morphological range into the Brewton Corner Notch.

Features of Vosberg

  • Medium size

  • Broad, but relatively thin

  • Small to medium corner notches

  • Short stem which is grounded smooth

  • On average the length is about one quarter greater than the width

  • Base is squat and straight or slightly concave

Measurements:

Length - 25 to 70 mm (average 37 to 51 mm)

Stem Length - 6 to 10 mm

Blade Width -16 to 27 mm

Stem Width - 18 to 24 mm

Neck Width - 13 to 22 mm

Examples:

“This point is remarkable in that it is only 3.5 mm thick at its mid section and most of the point is actually translucent measuring 2 mm or less, especially near the barbs and stem. The point has a pronounced mocronate distal end (a small sharp tang on the tip of the blade). This Vosberg is very small and delicate in size, measuring 33 mm in length and is 22 mm wide”

“The point measures 39 mm in length and is 27.5 mm wide at the barbs”

Geographical Locations

Vosberg projectile points are primarily found in Pennsylvania; however they range out to Ohio, eastern New York, and into New England. The point can be found less frequently in the other highlighted areas which does greatly include the New Jersey area.

References

Ritchie.jpg. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2021, from http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/file/ritchiejpg-0

Vosberg - LITHICS-Net. (n.d.). Retrieved April 26, 2021, from http://www.lithicsnet.com/vosberg.htm

Vosberg projectile point. (2008). Retrieved April 26, 2021, from https://www.projectilepoints.net/Points/Vosberg.html