Projectile point · Early Archaic
Thebes
8000–6000 BCE, Archaic (Eastern)
The Thebes point is a large, thick Early Archaic knife of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, about 8,000 to 6,000 BCE, named after a site in Illinois. It was resharpened by alternate bevelling into a strongly twisted blade. Most are in Burlington, Flint Ridge or Wyandotte chert.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 8000–6000 BCE |
| Period | Early Archaic |
| Cultures | Archaic (Eastern) |
| Regions | North America — Eastern Woodlands |
Diagnostic traits
Large, thick, with squared or key-shaped side notches, a straight ground base and steep alternate bevelling.
Identification
Thebes has squared or key-shaped notches that turn upward, a straight ground base and steep alternate bevelling, which separate it from Dovetail with its convex base and from Lost Lake with its corner notches. It is thicker than either. Key-notched examples are a recognised variety.
Reproductions and fakes
Thebes points are faked with mechanical bevelling and cut notches; genuine notches show grinding inside and the bevels are uneven and worn. Fresh Burlington chert with no patina is a warning sign.
Cite this article
Stratum Study. "Thebes" (Artifact type). Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/study/types/thebes. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-thebes,
title = {Thebes},
author = {{Stratum Study}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/study/types/thebes}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Study pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, cleveland. 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.