Projectile point · Late Archaic
Wadlow
2000–1000 BCE, Archaic (Eastern)
Wadlow is the large ovate blade of the Titterington phase in Illinois and Missouri, named for the Wadlow site in Jersey County, Illinois. It is usually made from heat-treated Burlington chert, sometimes to 200 mm or more, and is found both singly and in caches, often with Etley points, and is interpreted as a knife or preform. Cache blades of this type are widely collected and often hold a distinctive pink to white color from heat treatment.
| Object | Projectile point |
|---|---|
| Dates | 2000–1000 BCE |
| Period | Late Archaic |
| Cultures | Archaic (Eastern) |
| Regions | North America — Eastern Woodlands |
Diagnostic traits
Large, thin, unstemmed ovate to lanceolate blade with convex edges, a rounded or straight base and broad, well controlled percussion flaking.
Identification
Wadlow is thinner and more ovate than Nebo Hill, which is narrow, lanceolate and thick in section, and shorter and broader than Sedalia, which is lanceolate with a squared base. It lacks the stem and barbs of Etley. Some Wadlows were later stemmed into Etleys, so blanks with partly formed shoulders occur.
Reproductions and fakes
Fake caches of Wadlow blades are made from modern heat-treated Burlington; the tell is a glassy surface with no differential patina between faces and no soil sheen on the ridges.
Elsewhere
- Wikidata: Q138717791
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Wadlow" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/wadlow. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-wadlow,
title = {Wadlow},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/wadlow}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, wikidata. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.