Addressing a gap in the late Pleistocene record of the Midwest: fluted points in Northwest Missouri and Southwest Iowa

Despite well-documented Clovis and Folsom occupations in parts of the Great Plains and Midwest the archaeological record of late Pleistocene foragers in northwest Missouri and southwest Iowa remains patchy and poorly understood. This study addresses that gap through the systematic documentation of 235 fluted projectile points, including 44 newly reported points from the David A. Easterla collection. By integrating data from museum holdings, private collections, and vetted literature, the study reveals a more substantial and spatially structured Paleoindian presence than previously recognized. The spatial distribution of raw material transport and point discard suggests high mobility during the Clovis period, with long-distance moves along the Missouri River and its tributaries, with some evidence for more restricted ranges and more localized land use during the Folsom period. These findings highlight the importance of underutilized collections and collaborative regional surveys in refining our understanding of early human behavior in the Midcontinent.