Upper Valley Dalton

Description: Upper Valley Dalton, or UVD, are a relatively recently recognized point type, having often being confused as unfluted clovis or Planview points. UVD points are lancolate in outline, have a concave base, and on unresharpened examples have parallel edges with tips that converge sharply to a point. UVD are frequently resharpened by alternate beveling and are frequently made on heat treated Galena chert. A second variant termed Northern Valley Dalton (NVD) is similar although resharpened NVD are frequently serrated instead of beveled and display a shorter, slightly concave sided haft area and are frequently made on Silurian cherts. Their close association with the Mississippi, Illinois, and Wisconsin rivers reflects an adaptation to the developing river resources during the early Holocene.

Distribution: UVD are most commonly found in the northwest portion of Illinois and into southwest Wisconsin, although sporadic examples are found across northern Illinois and into Cook county. NVD are mostly found in western Illinois south of the Quad Cities to the Quincy area although sporadic examples are found across northern Illinois and into Cook county. These distributions and differences in style and chert use may reflect social territories and contacts between related groups.

Age: UVD remain undated by radiocarbon assay in Illinois although two sites, one in Wisconsin and another in Iowa provide radiocarbon dates which suggest a time frame 10,200-9,500 BP for the Upper Valley Dalton complex.