Projectile point · Late Archaic
Elko Corner-notched
1500 BCE–800 CE, Desert Archaic
The Elko Corner-notched point is the most common dart point of the Great Basin, about 1,500 BCE to 800 CE, part of the Elko series with Elko eared points. It is found from Oregon to Utah and into the Southwest, mostly in obsidian and chert. It marks the late Archaic before the bow.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 1500 BCE–800 CE |
| Period | Late Archaic |
| Cultures | Desert Archaic |
| Regions | North America — Great Basin & Plateau |
Diagnostic traits
Corner-notched dart point with an expanding stem and basal width less than the shoulder width; base straight to convex.
Identification
Elko has corner notches, an expanding stem and a base narrower than the shoulders, straight to convex, unlike Elko eared with its concave base and Rose Springs, which is a small arrowpoint. Gatecliff and Pinto have split stems. Width at the base is the key measurement.
Reproductions and fakes
Obsidian Elkos are the commonest reproduced Great Basin point, sold in rock shops and aged with sand; genuine obsidian shows hydration rims and dulled edges. Chert examples are rarely faked.
Elsewhere
- Wikidata: Q138712394
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Elko Corner-notched" (Artifact type). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/study/types/elko-corner-notched. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-elko-corner-notched,
title = {Elko Corner-notched},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/types/elko-corner-notched}},
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.