Description of Indian Arrowheads

Clovis Points

• Clovis point arrowheads are one of the earliest types of arrowheads to be used, dating back as much as 14,000 years. They are found only in North America. This kind of arrowhead has one or more flutes, or groves down the center used to bind it to a shaft. It has a concave base and convex sides. The base was usually ground down to keep it from cutting the binding material. Clovis points are thought to have been used for large animals, such as bison and mammoths.

Dalton Points

• Dalton point arrowheads are believed to have been used both as projectiles and as knives. They are long, slim and lance-like in shape. The right side of the arrowhead tends to be beveled, especially when the point was resharpened. Some points were fluted. Dalton points have been found in all 114 counties in Missouri. They are similar to other types of arrowheads found in the Midwest.

San Patrice Points

• Also found in Missouri and dating to the same period as Dalton points, San Patrice points come in two varieties, Hope points and St. Johns points. Both types of San Patrice points are typically thin and have flute scars on one or both faces. The Hope point tends to have rounded shoulders and a deeply concave base. St. Johns can be distinguished from the Hope point by the corner notch near the base, as well as having a less concave base.

St. Charles Points

• St. Charles points are found in central Illinois and eastern Missouri. They are sometimes called dovetail or plevna points. Dating back 8,000 to 10,000 years ago, St. Charles points are medium to large spear-knife points. They have convex sides, and the points are generally barbed or serrated. The stems are short and narrow, while the notches are deep and narrow. Found in the Upper Mississippi Valley, they are generally made out of Hixton silicified sandstone or Burlington chert.