Scottsbluff belong to the Cody Complex, a group of points that share morphologic similarities to one another and exist at roughly the same time. Scottsbluff points are sometimes categorized into two different designations, Scottsbluff I, and Scottsbluff II – also referred to as Johnston. 

Scottsbluff I points are typically less robust than Alberta points. They still have shoulders, but they are less pronounced. Making comparisons within the complex, they more closely resemble Eden points than they do Alberta. 

Scottsbluff II points, or Johnston, have much more pronounced shoulders than the Scottsbluff I type. Another difference would be the blade shape. Johnston blades are much more triangular than Scottsbluff I.

When determining whether a point may be Eden or Scottsbluff, it is important to look at the flaking patterns and the cross section. Eden points have much finer horizontal flaking. Each flake scar should meet in the middle of the point, making a diamond cross section. Johnston points do not have a similar shape as Eden, and their cross section is lenticular which easily rules them out. Scottsbluff I points sometimes have either diamond or lenticular cross sections which makes the flaking patterns the important distiction.¹