Projectile point · Late Archaic
Cienega
800 BCE–150 CE, Desert Archaic
Cienega is the diagnostic point of the Early Agricultural period Cienega phase of southern Arizona and northern Sonora, dated to about 800 BCE–150 CE, and is associated with the earliest maize farmers and pithouse villages of the region. It was made from chert, rhyolite and obsidian. Several varieties, Cienega Long, Short, Stemmed and Flared, are recognized.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 800 BCE–150 CE |
| Period | Late Archaic |
| Cultures | Desert Archaic |
| Regions | North America — Southwest |
Diagnostic traits
Small to medium dart point with a long triangular blade, deep narrow corner notches, sharp barbs and a small expanding stem with a straight to convex base.
Identification
Cienega is thinner and more finely notched than San Pedro, its predecessor, which has broader side notches and a wider base; it is smaller than Elko Corner-notched with proportionally longer barbs. Hohokam arrow points that follow it are much smaller and often serrated.
Reproductions and fakes
Not often faked; genuine obsidian examples show hydration dulling.
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Cienega" (Artifact type). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/study/types/cienega. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-cienega,
title = {Cienega},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/types/cienega}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Study 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.