To most archaeologists, lithic tools composed of this rock type are referred to as "Tallahatta Quartzite". Tallahatta comes from the geological formation name. Quartzite was once used as a designation for a quartz-rich sedimentary rock (Pettijohn, 1957). However, the term is more commonly employed today to designate metamorphosed quartz-rich sandstone. Since the rocks comprising the Tallahatta Formation have not been metamorphosed, quartzite is an incorrect rock classification for lithic tools made from these material. A more acceptable classification that is consistent with geological nomenclature is Tallahatta Sandstone.