How to Identify Authentic Great Lakes Arrowheads

Published: June 10, 2026 | By Great Lakes Lithics

Great Lakes Arrowheads Identification Guide

Identifying authentic Native American projectile points from the Great Lakes region requires careful observation of shape, flaking patterns, notching, and raw material.

Common Point Types in the Great Lakes Region

Point Type	Time Period	Shape & Characteristics	Notching	Common Materials	Typical Size
Clovis	Paleo-Indian (13,000+ years ago)	Lanceolate, fluted base, concave base	None (fluted)	Upper Mercer, Flint Ridge, Bayport Chert	Large (3–5 inches)
Gainey	Early Paleo	Similar to Clovis but deeper basal concavity	None (fluted)	Bayport, Kettle Point	2.5–4 inches
Brewerton	Archaic (6,000–3,000 BP)	Triangular to stemmed, thick	Side-notched	Local cherts	1.5–3 inches
Lamoka	Archaic	Narrow, stemmed, thick cross-section	Stemmed	Local cherts	1.5–2.5 inches
Side-Notched	Middle to Late Woodland	Triangular blade, wide shoulders	Deep side notches	Bayport, Burlington	1–2.5 inches
Madison	Late Woodland / Mississippian	Small, thin, isosceles triangle	None or basal	Varied cherts	0.75–1.5 inches

Key Identification Tips

Fluting — Long channel flakes removed from the base are a strong indicator of Paleo-Indian points (Clovis/Gainey).
Material — High-quality translucent cherts like Bayport or Flint Ridge are very common in the region.
Flaking — Authentic points usually show controlled pressure flaking with regular, uniform flake scars.
Patina — Ancient points often have a weathered surface or mineral staining.

Collection of various Great Lakes stone points

Have a point you'd like identified? Feel free to contact us.