Projectile point · Early Woodland
Waubesa
500 BCE–200 CE, Woodland (Eastern)
Waubesa is the Early to Middle Woodland contracting-stem point of Wisconsin, northern Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, named for Lake Waubesa near Madison, Wisconsin. It is found on Early Woodland habitation sites and in Middle Woodland mound contexts and was made from local cherts, Hixton silicified sandstone and Burlington chert. Wisconsin collectors treat it as the state's typical Woodland dart point.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 500 BCE–200 CE |
| Period | Early Woodland |
| Cultures | Woodland (Eastern) |
| Regions | North America — Eastern Woodlands |
Diagnostic traits
Medium to large point with a triangular to ovate blade, weak sloping shoulders and a long contracting stem with a rounded base.
Identification
Waubesa has weaker, more sloping shoulders and a more rounded stem than Dickson; the two grade into each other. Adena Stemmed is shorter-stemmed with a broader base, and Gary is thicker and crude by comparison.
Reproductions and fakes
Not often faked; Hixton examples should show the sugary, slightly translucent weathered surface of that material.
Elsewhere
- Wikidata: Q138715624
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Waubesa" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/waubesa. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-waubesa,
title = {Waubesa},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/waubesa}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, wikidata, commons. 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.