Projectile Points

     Projectile points are chipped stone artifacts used as multi-purpose tools for hunting and butchering. American Indians at the site never made stone points in a distinctive Marksville style. Instead, they used styles of stone points that were already in use in Louisiana. Kent and Gary types were most popular. That people did not develop new styles of projectile points at Marksville is not much of a surprise. The existing points served their needs. This is one way archaeologists can see practices that endured at the site.

     All of the projectile points that archaeologists have found at the site were used on lightweight spears thrown with atlatls. Shaped like an oversized crochet needle, an atlatl is an ancient hunting tool that gave the dart extra power and speed. A hunter inserted the hooked end of the atlatl into a shallow socket in the end of the dart. Hurled with a smooth, gliding motion, the dart flew toward the target while the atlatl remained in the hunter's hand. Sometimes, a weight attached to the atlatl helped to balance it and made it more effective. Click here to see how atlatls were used.

Click on the image to the left to get a better look.