Hunting for arrowheads of ancient Indians — can you think of a more fun activity? If you come across a whole tip, consider yourself lucky. The discovery is quite characteristic, if cleaned of soil, easily recognizable. The small stones that Native Americans made and used as tools and weapons are valuable finds for every hunter.
You may ask how to hunt for arrowheads and where to look? It is pretty logical that the exact location of such valuable items is unknown and can hardly be predicted. However, there are some ways to help you with your search. One of the safest options when starting a spearhead hunt is to explore the historical habitats of Native American tribes.
Some of them may accurately be located in the region where you live. An equally important point is communication with locals and reading legends. Many of them hide valuable arrowhead locations and reveal the secret of how to find this treasure.
Everything happens like in the movies: you can visit local bars and small cafés, chat with local regulars and fans of history. They can reveal secrets about where to look for these precious items.
Nevertheless, it is also worth paying attention to some laws that apply to arrowheads. The law allows them to be hunted on private land. However, there is one hitch. Arrowheads cannot be dug if they are at a Native American burial site, even on personal property. But ignorance of the law is no excuse. Even if you are not sure if your land is an ancient Indian site, it will be illegal to hunt for arrowheads.
Also, you cannot hunt for arrowheads on public land. Thus, as soon as the hunter learns the primary laws of hunting for these objects, he will choose the appropriate way to find the arrowheads.
Features of arrowheads
The Indians had quite a variety of weapons. The arrows were of different shapes — mainly the arrowheads, the blunt end of the arrow, and the cutout for the bowstring. The length of the arrow was chosen individually. As a rule, it was equal to the size of the owner’s hand — from the armpit to the fingertips.
The arrowheads were initially made of stone or bone. Later, the Indians learned to carve them from sheet iron. The tips had a triangular shape, sometimes rhomboid. Arrows for hunting birds or squirrels were without tips — these tiny creatures were struck simply by a mighty blow, from which bones were crushed.
Arrowheads can be copper, bronze, or bone. War arrows could pierce armor, shields, and helmets. Arrows with triangular arrowheads are best well-known. In the historical literature, such arrows are firmly entrenched in artifacts, the appearance of which is easily recognizable:
- These arrows have small, asymmetrical socketed arrowheads in a shape that resembles an elongated triangle.
- Sometimes they look like miniature spears.
Find Arrowheads in Creek Bottoms
If you are a fan of history and archeology, you probably know which place should be at the top of the search for arrowheads. The first place to look for these items is in creek bottoms. Many archaeologists and experts consider this place to be one of the richest in successful finds.
What is the advantage? First of all, most can access the creeks in their area. Most frequently, arrowhead finders are lucky in deep-bottomed streams in hilly terrain. For these reasons, arrowheads are easy to spot in streams:
- The arrowhead can be washed away by ridges and soil in which they have been for millions of years.
- Broken stream bottom and various precipitation are the easiest to see for history enthusiasts.
- Water does not allow the unique objects of Indian culture to break down.
Many arrowhead hunters claim that these streams are always full of unique items because this is where they are preserved in their original form. They will not be mechanically damaged, frozen, or otherwise broken in any way.
Therefore, the main advice: observe the presence of Native American points in the shallow water of the stream and the slots on the bends of the waterway. Also, pay attention to the banks of the river. Very often, these unique items can be hidden there as well.
Tilled Fields Will Turn Up Native Artifacts
Do not be afraid that there is no stream or other water spot in your area where you can hunt for arrowheads. Another great place to try your luck is in cultivated agricultural fields.
Perhaps even the kids at school know that Native American settlements were often located on highlands along rivers and high ridges overlooking natural floodplains. Thus, it is elementary for every person to find the arrowhead of the Indians, untouched for centuries:
- Cultivating the land of the field reveals these unique artifacts.
- The mud turned upside down by the field machines presents a chance to see this tiny object.
- Searching after rain increases the chances of finding something worthwhile.
However, there is also a particular paradox here. Machines that make the arrowhead visible to the human eye can seriously damage its integrity. Sharp discs in common hay mowers and other machines used in agriculture have helped find many interesting items, but there is a chance that they will harm the arrowhead.
The fields are a favorite place for seekers of unique artifacts because they give hunters the ability to quickly traverse tons of land, which can be difficult in winding ditches and streams.
Many Native American arrowheads can be found in cultivated fields.
However, be prepared to come around dozens of broken arrowheads to find an item that will be the pride of the collection. Also, be careful: your find may not be limited to arrowheads alone! There is a good chance that you will find a tomahawk or even a period ax. These unique items can often be seen in shops that are located near the fields.
Native American arrowheads are unique discoveries that every collector of ancient artifacts has always treasured. Many people want to become a hunter for such treasures. Thus, finding ancient Native American artifacts will be an easy undertaking if you know all the hunting specifics. Convenient locations in streams and fields will help with this.
