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Art History Virtual Exhibition

Kings Point North American Archaic cultures 1850-1050 B.C.E. Burlington chert, L. 2.5 cm x W. 5 mm x H. 8.8 cm Zinn collection #MSU2015.2.8

Ozarks vs. Mesoamerican Projectile Points: A Comparison: Researched by Matthew Thomas

October, 2020 by Sarah Teel

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

 

Kings Point
North American Archaic cultures
1850-1050 B.C.E.
Burlington chert, L. 2.5 cm x W. 5 mm x H. 8.8 cm
Zinn collection #MSU2015.2.8

 

Reproduction of a King’s Point from the Great Plains cultures.
Reproduction made by Matt 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)

 

Stealth Point
North American Archaic cultures
1650-750 B.C.E.
Pitkin chert, L. 1.7 cm x W. 4 mm x H. 3.8 cm
Zinn collection #MSU2015.2.9

 

Reproduction of a Stealth Point from the Great Plains cultures.
Reproduction made by Matt Thomas.

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)

 

Cahokia Point
North American Mississippian cultures
1000-1359 C.E.
Burlington chert, L. 1.2 cm x W. 3 mm x H. 2.5 cm
Zinn collection #MSU2015.2.9

 

Reproduction of a 10th century Cahokia Point from the Eastern Woodlands cultures.
Reproduction made by Matt 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)

 

 

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

Filed Under: 2017 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica Tagged With: cahokia point, kings point, north american archaic cultures, north american mississippian cultures, reproductions, stealth point

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Categories

  • 2017 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2017 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2018 Fall, ART 385: Art of the Americas
  • 2019 Fall, ART/MST 488: Basic Conservation of Art and Artifacts
  • 2019 Spring, ART 485: Art of Mesoamerica
  • 2020 Fall, ART 487: Art of the Americas

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