Projectile point · Paleoindian
Agate Basin
8500–7000 BCE, Plano
The Agate Basin point is a long, slender lanceolate of the Northern Plains and Rocky Mountains, about 8,500 to 7,000 BCE, named for the Agate Basin site in Wyoming. It was used by bison hunters and is found from Alberta to Texas. Complete examples are long and elegant.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 8500–7000 BCE |
| Period | Paleoindian |
| Cultures | Plano |
| Regions | North America — Great Plains |
Diagnostic traits
Slender, lenticular lanceolate widest near the middle; base straight to slightly convex and ground.
Identification
Agate Basin is lenticular in section and widest near the middle, with a straight to slightly convex ground base, unlike Hell Gap which is widest above the middle and tapers to the base. It lacks the flutes of Clovis and Folsom and the stem of Cody points. Flaking is parallel-oblique or irregular.
Reproductions and fakes
Long lanceolates are reproduced in Knife River flint and given a smoked or stained surface; look for basal grinding, use wear at the tip and natural chalky patina on the flint. Modern examples are often too symmetrical.
Elsewhere
- Wikidata: Q138717835
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Agate Basin" (Artifact type). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/study/types/agate-basin. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-agate-basin,
title = {Agate Basin},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/types/agate-basin}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Study 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.