Projectile point · Late Prehistoric
Rose Springs
300–1300 CE, Fremont, Ancestral Puebloan
The Rose Springs point is the earliest arrowpoint of the Great Basin and Southwest, about 300 to 1,300 CE, named after a site in California and often grouped with Eastgate as the Rosegate series. It marks bow adoption among Fremont and Ancestral Puebloan peoples. Most are obsidian.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 300–1300 CE |
| Period | Late Prehistoric |
| Cultures | Fremont, Ancestral Puebloan |
| Regions | North America — Great Basin & Plateau, North America — Southwest |
Diagnostic traits
Small corner-notched arrow point with an expanding stem and narrow base; marks bow adoption in the Great Basin.
Identification
Rose Springs is a small corner-notched point with an expanding stem and narrow base, essentially a miniature Elko, unlike Desert Side-notched, which is side-notched with a high notch position, and Cottonwood, which is unnotched. Eastgate has squared barbs. Size is under 3 cm.
Reproductions and fakes
Obsidian reproductions are common; genuine pieces show hydration and dulled edges. Small size makes fakes easy to knap.
Elsewhere
- Wikidata: Q138715168
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Rose Springs" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/rose-springs. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-rose-springs,
title = {Rose Springs},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/rose-springs}},
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.