Projectile point · Paleoindian
Hell Gap
8500–7500 BCE, Plano
The Hell Gap point is a Late Paleoindian lanceolate of the Northern and Central Plains, about 8,500 to 7,500 BCE, named after the stratified Hell Gap site in Wyoming. It armed bison hunters of the Casper and Jones-Miller kill sites. It succeeds Agate Basin in the Plains sequence.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 8500–7500 BCE |
| Period | Paleoindian |
| Cultures | Plano |
| Regions | North America — Great Plains |
Diagnostic traits
Long lanceolate with the widest point above the midsection tapering to a narrow, straight base; stem edges ground.
Identification
Hell Gap has its widest point above the midsection and tapers to a narrow straight base with ground stem edges, which distinguishes it from Agate Basin, widest at the middle, and from Scottsbluff, which has shoulders. Flaking is less regular than Cody points. Alberta points are similar but with a more pronounced stem.
Reproductions and fakes
Fakes are uncommon but Agate Basin fragments are sometimes reworked into Hell Gap outlines. Check for grinding that extends up the tapering edges and for patina consistent across all faces.
Elsewhere
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Hell Gap" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/hell-gap. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-hell-gap,
title = {Hell Gap},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/hell-gap}},
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.