Elko point

Elko Points, Elko cluster, or Elko eared, are a form of chipped stone projectile points associated with cultures of the northwestern United States. Sometimes also called Desert Corner Notched, Eastgate, Elko Corner Notched, Hell's Canyon. They were first discovered in situ in a site near Elko, Nevada, hence the name, Robert Heizer and M. A. Baumhoff in 1961.[1] Elko arrowheads were used 4,000 to 1,500 years ago, have the classic arrowhead shape and were launched with spears and darts to hunt small mammals and ducks.[2]

A Corner Notched projectile with flat basal edge.

Types
An Elko Side Notch projectile with slightly concave basal edge.

There are three main types of Elko points. The Elko Corner Notched proper, which has a fairly straight basal edge that doesn't quite have the distinctive central basal notch. The Elko Split Stem has a narrow basal notch and the Elko Side Notched.

Elko Corner Notched

Elko Corner Notched are triangular points with a flattened to slightly elliptical cross section and ranging on average of 33 to 51 mm long. The blade is narrowly serrated with an average point width of 13 to 17 mm. The base is fairly flat to slightly concave with characteristic deep notches at the base having an classic upward angle. Overall, the point has an average thickness of 4 to 9 mm.[3]

Elko Side Notch

Elko Side Notch points are triangular with a flattened to slightly elliptical cross section and ranging on average of 33 to 51 mm long. The blade is narrowly serrated with an average arrowhead width of 13 to 17 mm. The base is fairly flat to slightly concave with a small notch and stem at the base. Overall, the point has an average thickness of 4 to 9 mm.[4]

Elko split stem

These are triangular points with a flattened to slightly elliptical cross section and ranging on average of 33 to 51 mm long. The blade is commonly serrated with characteristical side notches having an upward angle with an average width of 18 to 24 mm. The base is slightly concave with a narrow basal notch. Overall, the point has an average thickness of 4 to 9 mm.[5] Split Stem points predate Elko series points to between 5,500 and 3,300 years BP in the Lahontan Basin.[6]

References
  1. LithicsNet.com. "Point Type: ELKO EARED". Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  2. Antelope Valley Indian Museum. "Projectile Points: What's the difference?". Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  3. Projectile Points Typology Database. "Elko Corner Notch". Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  4. Projectile Points Typology Database. "Elko Corner Notch". Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  5. Projectile Points Typology Database. "Elko Split Stem". Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  6. Hockett, B. S. (1995). Chronology of Elko series and split stemmed points from northeastern Nevada. Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology, 41-53.
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