Projectile point · Late Prehistoric
Plains Side-notched
1200–1750 CE, Plains Village
The Plains Side-notched point is the general Late Prehistoric side-notched arrowpoint of the Plains, about 1,200 to 1,750 CE, covering local types such as Washita, Harrell and Prairie Side-notched. It was used by Plains Village farmers and bison hunters alike. Most are in Knife River flint, Alibates or local chert.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 1200–1750 CE |
| Period | Late Prehistoric |
| Cultures | Plains Village |
| Regions | North America — Great Plains |
Diagnostic traits
Small triangular arrow point with narrow side notches set above a straight or notched base.
Identification
Plains Side-notched has narrow notches set above a straight or notched base on a small triangle, unlike Avonlea, which is thinner with lower notches, and Fresno, which is unnotched. Harrell adds a basal notch. Prairie Side-notched has notches set higher and a less carefully made base.
Reproductions and fakes
Occasionally reproduced by hobby knappers; low value keeps fraud minimal. Genuine points show patina on Knife River flint.
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Plains Side-notched" (Artifact type). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/study/types/plains-side-notched. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-plains-side-notched,
title = {Plains Side-notched},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/types/plains-side-notched}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, 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.