Fluting is a technological and morphological hallmark of some of the most iconic North American Paleoindian stone points. Through decades of detailed artifact analyses and replication experiments, archaeologists have spent considerable effort reconstructing how flute removals were achieved, and they have explored possible explanations of why fluting was such an important aspect of early point technologies. However, the end of fluting has been less thoroughly researched. In southern North America, fluting is recognized as a diagnostic characteristic of Clovis points dating to approximately 13,000 cal yr BP, the earliest widespread use of fluting. One thousand years later, fluting occurs more variably in Dalton and is no longer useful as a diagnostic indicator. How did fluting change, and why did point makers eventually abandon fluting? In this article, we use traditional 2D measurements, geometric morphometric (GM) analysis of 3D models, and 2D GM of flute cross sections to compare Clovis and Dalton point flute and basal morphologies. The significant differences observed show that fluting in Clovis was highly standardized, suggesting that fluting may have functioned to improve projectile durability. Because Dalton points were used increasingly as knives and other types of tools, maximizing projectile functionality became less important. We propose that fluting in Dalton is a vestigial technological trait retained beyond its original functional usefulness.

凹槽是一些最具标志性的北美古印度石点的技术和形态标志。通过数十年的详细文物分析和复制实验，考古学家花费了大量精力来重建长笛移除是如何实现的，并且他们探索了为什么长笛是早期尖端技术如此重要的方面的可能解释。然而，对长笛的终结研究还不够彻底。在北美南部，凹槽被认为是克洛维斯点的诊断特征，可追溯到大约 13,000 cal yr BP，这是最早广泛使用凹槽。一千年后，瓦楞在道尔顿发生的变化更大，不再用作诊断指标。长笛是如何变化的，为什么点制造商最终放弃了长笛？在本文中，我们使用传统的 2D 测量、3D 模型的几何形态 (GM) 分析和长笛横截面的 2D GM 来比较克洛维斯和道尔顿点长笛和基础形态。观察到的显着差异表明克洛维斯的凹槽是高度标准化的，这表明凹槽可能起到提高弹丸耐久性的作用。由于道尔顿点越来越多地用作刀具和其他类型的工具，因此最大化射弹功能变得不那么重要了。我们认为，道尔顿的长笛是一种残留的技术特征，保留在其原始功能用途之外。和长笛横截面的 2D GM 比较克洛维斯和道尔顿点长笛和基础形态。观察到的显着差异表明克洛维斯的凹槽是高度标准化的，这表明凹槽可能起到提高弹丸耐久性的作用。由于道尔顿点越来越多地用作刀具和其他类型的工具，因此最大化射弹功能变得不那么重要了。我们认为，道尔顿的长笛是一种残留的技术特征，保留在其原始功能用途之外。和长笛横截面的 2D GM 比较克洛维斯和道尔顿点长笛和基础形态。观察到的显着差异表明克洛维斯的凹槽是高度标准化的，这表明凹槽可能起到提高弹丸耐久性的作用。由于道尔顿点越来越多地用作刀具和其他类型的工具，因此最大化射弹功能变得不那么重要了。我们认为，道尔顿的长笛是一种残留的技术特征，保留在其原始功能用途之外。