Paiján Point Technology in Brazil? Morpho-technological Considerations on a Crystal Quartz Point

We report a Paiján-style crystal quartz projectile point from Ilha dos Moisés (São Francisco River, Northeast Brazil), far beyond the securely documented Andean range of Paiján technology and recovered from a surface palimpsest. Using diagnostic criteria, morphometrics, and technological comparison with the Peruvian reference series, we assess similarity at the artifact level. The specimen displays a pronounced apical “needle,” a convex-sided body, and a barbed basal unit, shaped through controlled bifacial thinning by soft-hammer percussion and localized pressure retouch within the notches, resulting in marked bilateral symmetry and minimal thickness variation. Selective cortex retention and blank orientation to enhance internal planar features further suggest deliberate aesthetic planning and display value. Despite the surface context, the specimen anchors an artifact-level identification of the Paiján style in Northeast Brazil and provides explicit criteria for future comparative testing.