Projectile point · Late Archaic
Elko Eared
1500 BCE–700 CE, Desert Archaic
Elko Eared is a member of the Elko series of Great Basin dart points, defined by Heizer and Baumhoff from sites in Elko County, Nevada, and dated in the central Great Basin to about 1500 BCE–700 CE, though the series may begin earlier in some areas. It is made from obsidian, chert and basalt and is found from Nevada and Utah to eastern California, Oregon and Idaho. It is common on Great Basin sites and modestly valued unless in fine obsidian.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 1500 BCE–700 CE |
| Period | Late Archaic |
| Cultures | Desert Archaic |
| Regions | North America — Great Basin & Plateau |
Diagnostic traits
Medium-sized corner-notched dart point with a triangular blade, sharp barbs, an expanding stem and a deeply concave or notched base that forms two basal ears.
Identification
The notched or deeply concave base with ears separates Elko Eared from Elko Corner-notched, which has a straight to convex base. Gatecliff Split Stem is older with a contracting rather than expanding stem, and Northern Side-notched is side-notched with a straight base. Pinto points have a bifurcated base but weak shoulders.
Reproductions and fakes
Obsidian Elkos are reproduced in quantity; genuine obsidian shows hydration dulling and slight edge rounding, whereas modern knapping is glassy and sharp. Ears on genuine points are often chipped.
Elsewhere
- Wikidata: Q138712395
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Elko Eared" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/elko-eared. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-elko-eared,
title = {Elko Eared},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/elko-eared}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, wikidata. 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.