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that no such patterning could be detected. According to Reed and Metcalf (1999:83), “It <br />would appear that the diversity and lack of chronological and spatial patterning is real, and <br />that it is time to move beyond wishful thinking about obtaining an orderly projectile point <br />chronology for the area.” <br />In opposition to their earlier observations, Metcalf and Reed (2011:131-133) <br />identified diagnostic points found in association with the Paleoarchaic, Early and Middle <br />Archaic period sites, which are listed in Table 2. Importantly, they have identified a new <br />type called “Narrow Series Points” that are characterized by broad, shallow side-notches, <br />sometimes grading into a stemmed appearance, and are narrow, convex-to-triangular in <br />overall shape. They also have a subset defined by shallow notches and a basal shape <br />ranging from convex to very slightly concave. These have been dated ca. 7100–5900 cal BP <br />(ibid.:132). <br />Table 2. Acceptable Early-dated Occurrences of Project Area <br />Archaic Era Projectile Point Styles (Metcalf and Reed 2011:131, Table 38). <br />Point Type Earliest Consistent Project <br />Occurrences <br />Deception Creek 9490 cal BP <br />Elko Corner-notched 8000 cal BP <br />Elko Side-notched 7245 cal BP <br />Northern Side-notched 7100 cal BP <br />Narrow Series Points*7100 cal BP <br />Duncan-Hanna 5000 cal BP <br />Mallory 4860 cal BP <br />McKean Lanceolate 4790 cal BP <br />*narrow series points are not a regionally named type. <br />Archaic Era Architecture of Northwest Colorado <br />The most basic typology organizes the multifarious record of Archaic architecture <br />into two general types: formal and informal. The key distinguishing feature between formal <br />and informal is the amount of labor invested in the construction. Formal structures exhibit <br />heightened investment of labor and evince a proclivity toward prolonged or repeated <br />occupation. Semi-subterranean structures are typical manifestations of formal structures. <br />Informal structures are characterized by expedient construction and a short term occupation. <br />25