Mississippian artifacts

To make products of everyday life, as well as special use items, Cahokians utilized plant, animal, and mineral resources that were available to them in the region, as well as materials that were acquired from farther distances through trade. The Mississippians made nearly all their tools from rocks and minerals such as sandstone, granite, and chert (a form of flint). The vast majority of their tools, however, were made of chert, a common stone in and around limestone beds of Illinois and Missouri. The Cahokians worked chert into a number of tool types including knives, drills, spuds, maces, projectile points, and large, specialized hoes. The Cahokians dug rich clay along the stream banks, dried it, added tempering, then added water to the mixture. This clay could be fashioned into a variety of ceramic vessels such as dishware, bottles, pans, and jars.