Projectile point · Late Archaic
Motley
1500–700 BCE, Poverty Point
Motley is the diagnostic corner-notched point of the Poverty Point culture of the lower Mississippi Valley in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, named by Clarence Webb and dated to about 1500–700 BCE. It is often made from imported gray northern cherts and novaculite as well as local gravel chert, and its long blade and deep notches give an elegant look. Well-made Motleys are among the most valuable Poverty Point points.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 1500–700 BCE |
| Period | Late Archaic |
| Cultures | Poverty Point |
| Regions | North America — Southeast |
Diagnostic traits
Medium to large, thin point with a long triangular blade, wide deep corner notches that create a sharply expanding stem and strong barbs, and a straight to convex base.
Identification
Motley has wider, deeper notches and a more expanded stem than Ellis and Edgewood, and its blade is longer and thinner than Epps, which has a shorter, broader blade. Gary, the common contracting-stem point of the same sites, is easily separated by its tapered stem.
Reproductions and fakes
Reproductions in novaculite are glossy with no patina; genuine novaculite Motleys develop a matte, frosted surface and often carry orange iron staining from the gravel soils.
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Motley" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/motley. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-motley,
title = {Motley},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/motley}},
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.