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ABSTRACT:
DICKSON POINTS
ILLINOIS, MISSOURI, OKlahoma and WISCONSIN
2,500 TO 2,100 YEARS AGO
The Dickson points illustrated for this article are from a private
collection in the central United States. This collection contains
some of the best examples of Dickson points in the region. Several
of them have been published in various amateur society journals. |
DICKSON POINTS
EARLY TO MIDDLE WOODLAND PERIOD
2,500 TO 2,100 YEARS AGO
Dickson points represent some of the most artistically shaped and colorful
stone artifacts ever found on Stone Age sites in North America. The better
examples were made by highly skilled flintknappers. These craftsmen were working within a structured
society
that supported members of skilled trades.
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PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
THE "EDWARDS"
DICKSON
PEORIA COUNTY, ILLINOIS
PRIVATE COLLECTION
This Dickson point was found by a Mr. Dobberstien in 1950 while he
was working for a dredging company. He found it north of Peoria,
Illinois on the bank of the Illinois River. It's considered by many to be the best example ever
found in Illinois because of it's beautiful colorful and skillful
flaking. This Dickson point measures 6 1/4 inches (15.8cm) long and
3 1/4 inches (8.2cm) wide. It also measures less than 1/4 inch (6mm)
thick. It's been known as the "Edwards" Dickson after Don
Edwards who once owned it a few years ago.
One very unique feature of this point, that you can see
on the enlarged image, is that both edges of the stem were trimmed with burin flake
removals. For some reason, this rarely used flake removal technique
(at least it's rare in this region of the world) was used to flatten
the stem edges, instead of leaving them with an edge like most
Dickson points. |
Dickson points were named by Howard Winters in 1967 after the Dickson camp
site
in Fulton County, Illinois. The site is now located within the Dickson
Mounds State Park.
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DICKSON CONTRACTING STEMMED
POINT
COLUMBIA COUNTY, WISCONSIN
PRIVATE COLLECTION
This Dickson point was found several years ago in Columbia County,
Wisconsin. It's one of the best Dickson points ever found in
the state of Wisconsin. It has been referred to by some collectors
as "Big Red". It measures around 8 1/4 inches (20.9cm) long. |
There are two different styles or types of Dickson points. Some have
contracting stems that are squared or truncated. Others have rounded
stems. Some have slightly concave bases.
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DICKSON CONTRACTING STEMMED
POINT
HENRY COUNTY, MISSOURI
PRIVATE COLLECTION
This large Dickson point was found by Gary Harms in Henry County,
Missouri on January 24, 1974. It's made of Mozarkite chert and
measures 9 inches (22.8cm) long. |
Two different names have been used to describe Dickson points. One is the
Dickson Contracting Stemmed point and the other is the Dickson
Broadbladed point.
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DICKSON CONTRACTING STEMMED
POINT
MACON COUNTY, MISSOURI
PRIVATE COLLECTION
This Dickson point was found in Macon County, Missouri. It measures
approximately 6 1/2 inches (16.5cm) long. |
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"REFERENCES"
1984, "Who's Who in Indian Relics" by Ben W. Thompson, page 9
"Edwards Dickson"
1985, "Selected Preforms, Points and Knives of the North American
Indians", Vol. 1, by Gregory Perino, page 107.
1987, "Story In Stone, Flint Types of the Central and Southern
U.S.", by Valerie & D.C. Waldorf, pages 196-197.
1987, "Stone Age Spear and Arrow Points", by Noel D. Justice,
pages 190-191.
2001,
"Central States Archaeological Journal", Vol. 48, No. 2, page
95.
2002, "Central States Archaeological Journal", Vol. 49, No. 1,
page 29.
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