Projectile point · Middle Archaic
Gatecliff
3000–1300 BCE, Desert Archaic
Gatecliff was defined by Thomas in 1981 from Gatecliff Shelter in Monitor Valley, Nevada, to replace older names such as Gypsum for the central Great Basin. It marks the Middle Archaic there and is followed by the Elko series. Obsidian and cryptocrystalline silica are typical.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 3000–1300 BCE |
| Period | Middle Archaic |
| Cultures | Desert Archaic |
| Regions | North America — Great Basin & Plateau |
Diagnostic traits
Dart point with straight to slightly barbed shoulders and either a contracting stem with a pointed or rounded base or a split stem with a notched base, unground.
Identification
The Contracting Stem variant is separated from Elko Corner-notched by its contracting rather than expanding stem, and the Split Stem variant from Pinto by its narrower, deeper basal notch and thinner blade. Humboldt is unshouldered.
Reproductions and fakes
Not reproduced by name; obsidian sheen and varnish are the signs of age.
Elsewhere
- Wikidata: Q5527036
- Wikipedia: Gatecliff Rockshelter
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Gatecliff" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/gatecliff. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-gatecliff,
title = {Gatecliff},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/gatecliff}},
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.