Hi-Lo

Little is known about the Hi-Lo complex in the Chicago region, however it is apparent that these people were highly adapted to Lake margin and early wetland ecosystems. No sites dating to this time period have been professionally investigated and the existing record is largely a light scatter of projectile points concentrated in the Lake, Cook, Will, and Kankakee areas which reflect isolated losses while hunting and moving across the region. Hi-Lo points are typically found on local cherts, including glacial till and beach cobble chert, as well as local Silurian chert outcrops. This reflects a fairly localized habitation, suggesting these groups may not have travelled very far over the course of the seasons, instead opting to settle in and adapt to local environments.

Description: Hi Lo points are small to medium sized spearpoints that often have shallow side notches or slight stemming. They are typically “squat” in appearance, that is they are relatively short relative to width, are thick in cross section, have concave bases, and are often basally thinned. Bases and notches are usually heavily ground.

Distribution: Hi Lo points are are closely associated with the southern Great Lakes region and are most common in areas bordering Lake Michigan. Campsites are often located on ancient beach ridges, along glacial lakes, and atop moraines associated with glacial Lake Michigan.

Age: Considered part of the late Paleoindian tradition, although other aspects of the complex suggest they more closely belong to the early Archaic tradition. While Hi Lo populations were likely hunting game (caribou?) in the post glacial environment of the Great Lakes, their lifestyles are most similar to other Dalton related complexes including reduced mobility which reflects a “settling in” to local environments. Although no dates from sites in Illinois are available a range of 11,500 to 11,000 BP are likely.