Ancient Native American stone points from the American Midwest and Great Plains are often comparable to stone points in Mesoamerica, as although they were made at different times and the types of stone may differ, similar points were often developed for similar purposes in different parts of the world.  Comparison illustrates that the Midwest Cahokia Point and the Great Plains Kings Point and Stealth Point are very similar to points from the Coahuila Complex of northern Mesoamerica.

All of these sharp, flaked stone tools were made using the manufacturing process known as flintknapping.  Ancient peoples used a variety of stones, bones, and antlers as percussive and pressure-flaking tools to make sharp implements from stone with glass-like qualities. Nevertheless, the similar sizes and shapes of these points indicate that they were used for similar purposes.  While the Kings Point is larger and was likely the head of a spear, the Stealth Point and the Cahokia Point are smaller points and would have been would be used on darts and arrows for hunting small game. Researched by Matthew Thomas

Mesoamerican Comparison:

Coahuila Complex point

1050-1750 C.E.

Flint, Approx. L. 3 cm x W. 5 mm x H. 5 cm

(http://www.projectilepoints.net)

Mesoamerican Comparison:

Coahuila Complex point

1050-1750 C.E.

Flint, Approx. L. 3 cm x W. 5 mm x H. 4 cm

(http://www.projectilepoints.net)

Mesoamerican Comparison:

Coahuila Complex point

1050-1750 C.E.

Flint, Approx. L. 3 cm x W. 5 mm x H. 5 cm

(http://www.projectilepoints.net)

For more information, you may contact the researcher(s) noted in the title of this exhibit entry, or Dr. Billie Follensbee, the professor of the course, at BillieFollensbee@MissouriState.edu