DALTON "DRILLS"
OLIVE BRANCH SITE
ALEXANDER COUNTY, ILLINOIS
EARLY ARCHAIC
PRIVATE COLLECTION
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     One of the more confusing Dalton tool types are the Dalton drills. These are represented by concave based projectile points that have been resharpened until they have an appearance of an awl or drill. These have always been referred to as drills but the majority of them never show any wear that would indicate they were ever used as drills. So it's logical to assume that they are just extensively resharpened projectile points. On-the-other-hand, there are bifacially flaked examples, that were not made from projectile points, that do seem to be purposely made for perforating or drilling procedures. Microscopic analysis of the edges, to look for any wear patterns, is the only sure way of determining whether any particular "drill" may have been used as a projectile point or drilling tool. The longest "drill" found on the Olive Branch site measured 4 3/8 inches (11 cm) long.

Six Dalton "drills" from the Olive Branch site.

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