Modoc Rock Shelter

The Modoc Rock Shelter is a site that is highly stratified. It is located in southern Illinois. Radiocarbon dates of the bottom level put the first occupations of the area at 8000 BC. This occupancy lasted until 6000 BC. Projectile points found were broad, concave based lanceolate points, with side notches just above the base. This type of projectile point is known to be associated with the Archiac culture to the east (Old Copper of Wisconsin). Also part of the tool inventory was scrapers and choppers, hammer stones, and bone awls. Throughout the whole occupational time frame subsistence centered on deer, raccoon, opossum, birds, fish, freshwater mussels.

During the second phase of occupation which dated from 6000 BC to 4000 BC the typical point was broad, ovate-triangular bladed point with side notches replaced the former point. However, it was during this occupational zone that the Dalton-Meserve point first appeared. Other tools included polished banner stone atlatl weight, a grooved axe, and a wide variety of grinding stones.

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