The abundance of chert drills in American Bottom Mississipian sites indicates that drilling was an important activity for some household members. Both utilitarian and non-utilitarian objects required drilling of holes, but drilling holes in shell for the manufacture of shell beads may have been particularly important. Recognizing the importance and value Mississippian people placed on shell beads, and the finely crafted beads from some elite burials, some scholars have argued that the large numbers of drills from Cahokia may indicate the presence of craft specialists (SCTY).

Microdrills, Cahokia.

Drilled marine shell beads.

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