The L-type was formally introduced in the SMASS classification, although previous studies had noted the unusual spectra of two of its members 387 Aquitania and 980 Anacostia.
L-typy boli formálne predstavené až v SMASS klasifikácii, pretože predchádzajúce pozorovania zistili nezvyčajné spektrum dvoch členov tejto skupiny: 387 Aquitania a 980 Anacostia.