Projectile Point Identification Guide

Stemmed Projectile Points of

California


 

    

 

 

Name Picture Shape Size Cultural Period Validity
Contracting Stem          
Ano Nuevo Contracting Stem Medium Late Archaic Valid Type
Bald Mountain
Borax Lake Variant
Ovoid to Contracting Stem Medium Early Archaic Provisional Type
Cascade Shouldered Contracting Stem Medium to Large Early to Middle Archaic Valid Type
Channel Island Barbed Contracting Stem Small to Medium Transitional Archaic to Developmental Valid Type
Contra Costa Contracting Stem Small to Large Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Coquille Broad Neck Contracting Stem Medium Middle to Late Archaic Valid Type
Coquille Narrow Neck Contracting Stem Small Transitional Archaic to Developmental Valid Type
Cougar Mountain Contracting Stem Medium to Large Transitional Paleo Valid Type
Excelsior Contracting Stem to  Ovoid Medium to Large Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Gatecliff Contracting Stem Medium Middle to Late Archaic Valid Type
Gunther Barbed
AKA:  Camas Valley, Mad River, Molly, Molalla, Rogue River, Shasta, Sutter Valley
Basal Notch / Contracting Stem Small Developmental to Classic Valid Type
Gypsum Cave
AKA: Lobo, Park Point
Contracting Stem Medium Late Archaic Valid Type
Houx . Contracting Stem Medium to Large Late to Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Lake Mojave Contracting Stem Medium Transitional Paleo Valid Type
Lind Coulee Type 1 Contracting Stemmed Medium to Large Transitional Paleo Valid Type
Lind Coulee Type 2 Contracting Stemmed Medium to Large Transitional Paleo Valid Type
Mahkin Shoulder Lanceolate Contracting Stem Medium to Large Early to Middle Archaic Valid Type
Manuela Contracting Stem Small to Medium Late Prehistoric to Historic Valid Type
Point Sal Barbed Contracting Stem Medium to Large Late to Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Rose Springs Sloping Shoulder Contracting Stem to Stemmed Small Late Prehistoric / Developmental Valid Type
Sierra Contracting Stem Contracting Stem Large Late to Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Sutter Contracting Stem
Gunther Variant
Contracting Stem Small Developmental to Classic / Late Prehistoric Gunther Variant
Vandenberg Contracting Stem Contracting Stem Medium to Large Late to Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Yana / Shasta Complex
Gunther Barbed Variant
Contracting Stem Small Developmental to Historic Cultural Type
Yosemite Contracting Stem Contracting Stem Medium to Large Late to Transitional Archaic Provisional Type
Stemmed          
Alberta Stemmed Medium to Large Transitional Paleo to Early Archaic Valid Type
Alkali Stemmed to Contracting Stem Small Developmental / Late Prehistory Valid Type
Big Valley Stemmed to Expanding Stem Medium to Large Middle to Late Archaic Valid Type
Borax Lake Stemmed Medium Early to Middle Archaic Valid Type
Bucks Lake Stemmed Medium Early to Middle Archaic Valid Sub-type for Borax Lake
Gatecliff Split Stem
Stemmed to Expanding Stem / Bifurcated Medium Middle to Late Archaic Valid Type
Lind Coulee Type 3 Stemmed Medium to Large Transitional Paleo Valid Type
Marymount
AKA: Malaga Cove Stemmed
Stemmed Small Developmental - Late Prehistory Valid Type
Panamint Stemmed
Stemmed Medium to Large Transitional Paleo Valid Type
Parman Stemmed to Contracting Stem Medium to Large Early Archaic Valid Type
Pinto Basin Barbed Shoulder Stemmed / Bifurcated Medium Late Archaic Valid Type
Pinto Basin Sloping Shoulder Stemmed / Bifurcated Medium Late Archaic Valid Type
Pinto Basin Square Shoulder Stemmed / Bifurcated Medium Late Archaic Valid Type
Pinto Basin Shoulderless Stemmed to Lanceolate / Bifurcated Medium Late Archaic Valid Type
Rose Springs Stemmed
AKA: Desert Stemmed
Stemmed to Expanding Stem Small Late Prehistoric / Developmental Valid Type
Rossi Square Stem Stemmed Medium to Large Late to Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Silver Lake Stemmed Small to Medium Transitional Paleo Valid Type
Stanislaus Stemmed Medium Middle Archaic Valid Type
Stockton Stemmed Stemmed Small to Medium Developmental / Late Prehistoric Valid Type
Ventana Amargosa
AKA: Amargosa Type I
Stemmed Small to Medium Middle Archaic Valid Type
Windust Type A Stemmed Medium to Large Transitional Paleo to Early Archaic Valid Type
Windust Type B Stemmed Medium to Large Transitional Paleo to Early Archaic Valid Type
Windust Type C Stemmed / Bifurcated Medium to Large Transitional Paleo to Early Archaic Valid Type
Expanding Stem          
Alamo Expanding Stemmed Large to Very Large Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Cache Creek Expanding Stem Medium to Large Middle to Late Archaic Valid Type
Elko Eared Expanding Stem / Bifurcated Small to Medium Late to Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Elko Split Stem Expanding Stemmed / Bifurcated Small to Medium Late to Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Foresthill Notched Side Notch to Expanding Stem Small to Medium Late to Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Hot Creek Expanding Stem Medium to Large Late to Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Jatay Side Notch to Expanding Stem Small to Medium Late to Transitional Archaic Cultural Type
Kelsey Creek Barbed Expanding Stemmed Medium to Large Middle to Late Archaic Valid Type
McGillivray Expanding Stem to Side Notch Medium to Large Late Archaic Valid Type
Rossi Expanding Stem Expanding Stem Medium to Large Late to Transitional Archaic Valid Type
San Jose Expanding Stem to Side Notch / Auriculate Small to Medium Middle Archaic Valid Type
San Pedro
AKA: En Medio, Hueco, and Basketmaker II
Expanding Stem Small to Medium Late to Transitional Archaic Valid Type
Wendover Expanding Stem Medium Middle Archaic Valid Type