Projectile point · Late Prehistoric
Alba
800–1200 CE, Caddo
Alba is an early Caddo arrow point of east Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma, named by Suhm and Krieger from the Alba site in Texas and dated to about 800–1200 CE. Large numbers came from early Caddo mound sites including Spiro and the George C. Davis site. Its bulbous stem and sharp barbs make it a favorite among arrow point collectors.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 800–1200 CE |
| Period | Late Prehistoric |
| Cultures | Caddo |
| Regions | North America — Southeast, North America — Great Plains |
Diagnostic traits
Small arrow point with a triangular blade, strong barbs and a short bulbous or rounded stem, frequently with recurved edges and fine serrations.
Identification
Alba has a bulbous or rounded stem where Bonham has a narrow straight stem and Hayes has a needle-like stem with deep barbs; Scallorn has an expanding stem. Agee, also from Spiro, is similar but with a shorter stem and more recurved barbs.
Reproductions and fakes
Tiny Caddo arrow points are reproduced in large numbers in glassy chert; genuine ones have dull surfaces, rounded barb tips and often a light calcite crust.
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Alba" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/alba. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-alba,
title = {Alba},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/alba}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.