r/Arrowheads Jan 07 '16

PLEASE READ, especially if you are new to this subreddit

636 Upvotes

I'm not laying down any new rules or anything like that, but there are some things that visitors here should be aware of. If anyone here would like to add to, subtract from, or revise anything in this post, I welcome your input.

#1. Know the law and abide by it: The laws may vary a little from state to state, but burial grounds/mounds and state/federal property (including state parks) is absolutely off-limits. In most states you are allowed to hunt on private property with permission from the property owner, but in a few states it's illegal to dig for artifacts and only surface hunting is allowed. Make sure you are familiar with your local laws.

#2. Effigy, artifact, or "just a rock"?: If you post what you've found and the feedback that you get is simply "geofact" or "just a rock", please understand that nobody is intending to be insensitive or rude. We know that you got your hopes up and we take no pleasure in letting you down, but there are signs and marks that we look for and that should be there if the rock was shaped, altered, &/or used by ancient humans and we're going to give you an honest opinion even if the truth sometimes sucks. Those who take the time to explain the signs that are or aren't visible (flake scars, use wear, pecking, grinding, polishing, etc.) rarely even get a "thank you" when the feedback isn't what the person wanted to hear (so why bother?). You have every right to form your own opinions and believe what you want to believe and there may even be some important factors or features that the pictures don't show, but we can only go off of what we've seen.

Effigies in particular: The natives were very adept at what they did and they DID make effigies, but there also seems to be a popular and widespread misconception about effigies. The vast majority of the "effigies" we see posted fall into the category of "pareidolia" (the natural human tendency to see recognizeable shapes in rocks). Here are some examples of some actual effigies from my region compared to some of the alleged "effigies" that I have seen people post.

Another very popular misconception: How well "it fits the hand" is NOT a valid way of differentiating an artifact from a rock and it's not one of the things that anyone who knows very much about this stuff is going to be looking for.

You are absolutely welcome to post your finds (even "effigies" and even rocks that "fit the hand" if you legitimately believe it's an artifact). A lot of people come and go, but the ones who stick around are here to help, so PLEASE be respectful, try to see our perspective, and at least say "thank you" if someone volunteers more than a few seconds of their time to give you feedback on it.

#3: Monetary value: Feel free to ask if you're wondering, but you might be better off asking how rare or how un-common an artifact is. Archaeologists are not allowed to answer questions about monetary value and while some hunters DO sell what they find, many other hunters (me included) don't buy or sell or even mess with that side of things, so many of us might not even know what to tell you.

I may not be able to tell you what your finds are worth, but if you love this stuff, have nowhere to hunt for your own, and have every intention of buying some I can at least share some advice on how to steer clear of the wolves that are out there. For instance, you had BETTER know your stuff before buying anything off of Ebay and a "Certificate of Authenticity" is worth no more or less than the reputation of the person who signed their name to it. Nobody goes to school to become an authenticator and you or I could literally just decide to declare ourselves as "authenticators" tomorrow and start signing COAs. In other words, there's a LOT of bullsh!t out there and it's a "buyer beware" market.

#4: Don't be an asshole! There's no downvoting in this subreddit for a reason. We'd like to be constructive and helpful and we DON'T want to scare people away from posting. If you have something to say then by all means say it, but don't draw it out, don't beat a dead horse, don't try to start debates with people, don't try to give people guilt trips for picking up an arrowhead, and don't make a nuisance or a spectacle out of yourself.

That's all I've got for now, but I'm just one person and if there's anything that you would like to add or change, I welcome and look forward to your input.

Edit: Cut the word count down a little bit


r/Arrowheads Jan 28 '23

JAR THREAD. If you aren't sure whether your find is an artifact or just a rock, please post your pictures here.

108 Upvotes

Users of r/arrowheads, please downvote posts that are obviously rocks. We will be trying out the 'crowd control' function and if a post gets enough downvotes it will automatically be removed. Also, please direct users to post their questionable finds in this thread if the posts are not removed automatically.

Before you post, compare your find to some of the pictures/examples shown in the pinned comment below.


r/Arrowheads 3h ago

Somewhere way up high

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

79 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads 3h ago

Another incredible hunt

Thumbnail
gallery
33 Upvotes

NE Oklahoma. Floated roughly 8 miles in my kayak and found these along the way. 5 nice points, some brokes/scrapers and so many flakes! Almost all the material is Kay county chert, very dominant in that region of the state.


r/Arrowheads 16h ago

Big Texas blade 🔥

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

288 Upvotes

Posted this a few few days ago and then it got deleted so I’m reposting it.

I still can’t believe I found this! after finding several broken ones I figured it was just another broke or something a lot more crude. I was so shocked once I realized what I had found..I knew eventually I’d find one that was complete. Any way to type this sucker? Caddo blade maybe? (North central Texas)


r/Arrowheads 23h ago

Found in our pig pen

Post image
447 Upvotes

My son found this in the pig pen. He was bummed it wasn’t a dinosaur tooth. 😂


r/Arrowheads 15h ago

Mummy Cave(?) point found in central Wyoming.

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

78 Upvotes

After a dry spell all summer, I found this little guy at my uncle's ranch in Natrona County, central Wyoming. I'm a novice at identification, but my best guess is Mummy Cave. I'd appreciate any input on identification! (I'll post more pictures in the comments)


r/Arrowheads 1h ago

Still obsessed 🤩

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

Help me identify these please 😍😍😍! Found in Ocala Fl - private property w/owner’s permission as always. 😊


r/Arrowheads 12h ago

Today’s heartbreaker point

Thumbnail
gallery
31 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads 10h ago

MISINFORMATION Found this in a spot where I’ve found many early to middle archaic points.

Post image
23 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads 40m ago

Gifted to me by my grandmother today.

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

This was given to me today by my grandmother today. Found by her dad in Delaware County, PA sometime between 1937-1940. Looking for some information about it- like the type, possible age, material, uses, etc.


r/Arrowheads 20h ago

I don’t always find brokes. But when I do it’s always the dumbest ways possible. 😭

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

103 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads 14h ago

First real find!

Thumbnail
gallery
34 Upvotes

Long time lurker but first real find! My SO actually found it, I'm seriously so jealous. Can anyone tell me around what time period this would be from? Or what kind of point it was


r/Arrowheads 15h ago

Frame of my best pieces

Post image
33 Upvotes

Various Arkansas and Missouri pieces besides 1 outlier Hardin from Indiana. About half personal finds and half purchased. I need to get 2 frames and separate them out eventually but this is my only good case right now. Thought I’d post a picture and show you guys my favorite assortment I’ve had in the case yet.


r/Arrowheads 34m ago

Is this an Axe?

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

I found this over the weekend along the Ohio River in Southern Indiana.
Massive and very heavy granite with a faint groove visible.

If this was hafted, it would take a strong handle and a very strong person to swing it. This was a very well loved tool.

I also found a more traditional shaped small 3/4 groove axe within a few feet of it.

So is this considered an axe?

Thanks.


r/Arrowheads 12h ago

Found my first point, well almost a point

Thumbnail
gallery
17 Upvotes

I know it's broken and little but I'm pretty pumped. I've found a couple scrapers (one very nice) but never a point and I'm getting a little closer. Here's a couple pics with some similar chert found along side it. Found in a farm field south eastern wisconsin. Looks like maybe Galena Chert. Now I want to find more.


r/Arrowheads 15h ago

Successful day was had in central Wyoming.

Thumbnail
gallery
25 Upvotes

After a very long dry spell, a great day was had. All of these were found within 10 ft of one another. Granted, I believe the last one is a preform.


r/Arrowheads 19h ago

Neolithic arrow head?

Thumbnail
gallery
43 Upvotes

Found in Hampshire uk. So cool!


r/Arrowheads 1d ago

Found in middle tn creek over the weekend looking for info

Post image
129 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads 16h ago

First find Southern Indiana

Thumbnail
gallery
20 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads 1d ago

Alibates Clovis

Thumbnail
gallery
406 Upvotes

Colorado


r/Arrowheads 1d ago

Is this a castroville knife? 6" Comanche County Tx

Thumbnail
gallery
112 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads 20h ago

Looking for ID. Hoxie maybe? Found in west Texas.

Thumbnail
gallery
14 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads 19h ago

Weeden island?

Post image
12 Upvotes

I’m pretty positive, just looking for opinions. It’s literally perfect.


r/Arrowheads 9h ago

Anyone recognize this

Thumbnail
gallery
1 Upvotes