Projectile point · Middle Archaic
Nolan
4000–2500 BCE, Plains Archaic
Nolan was named from central Texas in the Suhm and Jelks handbook and is a Middle Archaic type of the Edwards Plateau, found with Travis in the same levels. Edwards chert is standard. The beveled stem is easy to feel and makes the type a reliable marker for the period.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 4000–2500 BCE |
| Period | Middle Archaic |
| Cultures | Plains Archaic |
| Regions | North America — Great Plains, North America — Southwest |
Diagnostic traits
Narrow stemmed point with weak shoulders, a straight stem whose edges are alternately beveled, a straight to slightly concave base and a long triangular blade.
Identification
The alternately beveled stem edges are diagnostic and separate Nolan from Travis, which has an unbeveled stem, and from Bulverde and Pedernales, which have broader stems and stronger shoulders.
Reproductions and fakes
Seldom reproduced; genuine points show Edwards patina and slight dulling of the beveled stem edges.
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Nolan" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/nolan. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-nolan,
title = {Nolan},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/nolan}},
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.