The oldest settlers in Southernmost Illinois lived just south of Thebes. They were here nearly 10,000 years ago. They used 'Dalton' tools to kill their food. Their predecessors were 'Clovis' people who probably came across Alaska's Bering Strait 13-thousand years ago. The carbon-dating on these 'early Dalton' tools (you might call them 'arrowheads' - see pics below) is 9,400 years before present.
Why did they settle here? For one thing, there was a natural rock bridge which allowed animals and man to wade across the river at low tide, before man so rudely blasted out a navigation channel. This rock bridge is five or more miles, north to south. Their settlement was at the south end, about a mile south of the rail bridge. The natural rock bridge base was a smart place to put the rail bridge.
Earthquakes may have helped the Mississippi cut through the 'Thebes Gap' which is best seen just north of Thebes and Commerce, Mo. That also happened about 10,000 years ago. Before that, the river spilled out to the west, across the Missouri Bootheel. We're not sure whether the full force of the Mississippi was running past this community of Dalton-folks when they lived here. The Commerce lineament - which has produced earthquakes in previous eras, runs a mile south of the ancient settlement.
An archeological dig just south of the bridge is complete. There's nothing to see except a short break in the trees, where a group of people lived. It's a fairly narrow ledge along the river, bounded on the east by limestone hills. An excavation worker told us the experts believe about 60 people and descendants lived here for about 1,000 years. This location would provide afternoon sun, plenty of water, against limestone bluffs for shelter, and opportunity to get to the other side of the river.
Archeologists speak of the these people 'fluting' (making) 'Dalton' points, spears, tools and weapons. Fluting means accurately shaving the chert material to the proper edge thickness to be effective. A collection from that location is displayed at the Cairo Custom House Museum.
Man probably coexisted with mastodons for a bit. Mastodons were trapped and preserved south of St. Louis (museum near Imperial, Mo.). Similar tools were found in the Missouri Bootheel and near Ste. Genevieve, Mo.
Dalton tools, Dalton fluting in Southern Illinois - Olive Branch
