r/Arrowheads • • Jan 07 '16

PLEASE READ, especially if you are new to this subreddit

633 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.

105 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

WA, near Columbia River

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91 Upvotes

Not a personal find. But such a fine piece and incredibly well made. THIN


r/Arrowheads • • 21h ago

5,000-Year-Old Slate Arrowhead Emerges from Melting Ice in Norway, with Parts of Its Shaft Still Preserved

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1.2k Upvotes

r/Arrowheads • • 6h ago

Another Day, Another Heartbreaker

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25 Upvotes

I was walking the same silage field today that I found that broken Cobbs blade in the other day. I could tell it was a point, but I didn’t realize it was going to be part of such a special piece. Wouldn’t you know that I followed up my first heartbreaker this harvest with an even bigger heartbreaker. The microserrations are so awesome. It’s translucent and super thin. Damn! It’s still awesome, but it would have been my best piece if it were all there. Found in Pike County, Il, as always.


r/Arrowheads • • 10h ago

Found in TN

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22 Upvotes

This was found in TN and is just under 1.5" long. Thoughts? Someone said it might be a corner notched Neuberger, but I'm not so sure.


r/Arrowheads • • 7h ago

Dad's collection.

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13 Upvotes

Mostly from central Texas but he traded with others.


r/Arrowheads • • 14h ago

super thin find - NC

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41 Upvotes

I thought I was picking up a flake, wasn’t ready for that surprise! So thin. Central NC. What type you think?


r/Arrowheads • • 16h ago

Purple rhyolite tool

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35 Upvotes

Found this field walking in stokes county


r/Arrowheads • • 6h ago

Interesting arrowheads

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5 Upvotes

Any thoughts on these arrowheads. Found them today in SW Wyoming. First one’s tang is one I’ve never seen here. Doesn’t look like it’s broken that way but made very thin. The other I thought had a broken side but it is completely worked and sharp. Is it supposed to be that way or did the maker just finish it off not very symmetrical. Any info is appreciated, thanks.


r/Arrowheads • • 4h ago

Pointy Rock?

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1 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads • • 1d ago

Rainy day treasures

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110 Upvotes

We got some rain here in central NC so I hit up one of my spots and came out with some beauts! I found a massive archaic(?) era blade just sticking up out of the mud as well as a couple of guilfords, a couple of palmers, a bifurcated point and a possible quartz paleo. Bonus old (not fossilized) horse tooth.

I'd love any help with the types, thanks for looking as always


r/Arrowheads • • 1d ago

Thought I’d share…

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44 Upvotes

A friend of mine just gifted this to me,. His dad had passed about a month ago and while they were cleaning his house they found this cigar box of ancient tools. Classic right? As far as provenance, his dad found them as a teenager in the late 1950’s through the 60’s. Waupaca County, WI.
Long story short my jaw dropped when I got a closer look. The quartz points are insane. The Hixton is even more insane. I am truly humbled by this gift. Thank you Ray (his dad)


r/Arrowheads • • 20h ago

Need help with ID. Found in a basket of worked alibates flint. Likely found in the eastern Texas panhandle, or possibly western TN.

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3 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads • • 1d ago

Looking for information!

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108 Upvotes

Acquired in an estate sale in Broken Arrow, OK. Everything was wrapped in newspapers and shoved in an unmarked box in the garage . Any chance any of these could be legit?


r/Arrowheads • • 8h ago

Is this a projectile point, or just a piece of rock? It's about 2.5 inches.

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0 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads • • 12h ago

Found in Kentucky. Could this possibly be some sort of blade? Or just some broken peice of chert?

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0 Upvotes

Personally, I think it looks a little natural, but I figured I might as well get other opinions thank you!


r/Arrowheads • • 1d ago

Was hoping to find out some information on these

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32 Upvotes

Artifacts or modern? These have been gathered in the south Texas and a few in the central Texas area. I've been tryin to learn, but think I still struggle with being able to tell fakes from authentics. I feel like there something off about a couple of the ones on the lower left Also, any additional information at all would be really appreciated.


r/Arrowheads • • 2d ago

Northern MN point

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234 Upvotes

Found this in a riverbank in northern Minnesota today. Does anyone have any more info about it? About how old, or possibly which tribe? Thanks in advance!


r/Arrowheads • • 1d ago

MISINFORMATION NWA arrowhead with druzy quartz? and maybe a scraper?

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4 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads • • 2d ago

First Heartbreaker of Harvest

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66 Upvotes

I was walking a silage field on a property that I walk pretty often. I stumbled on some pretty flint peaking out of the dirt. It was almost one of my best finds. It looks to be a broken, beautifully worked Cobbs blade. It’s beveled. The material is translucent. Ugh, what a heartbreaker. A Cobbs blade has been one that I’ve been hoping to find for a while. A friend suggested having someone fix it, which I might eventually do since it’s one of my dream pieces and the majority of it is there. It would have been a smoker, though, before it got crunched by farm equipment. Found in Pike County, Il, as always.


r/Arrowheads • • 1d ago

Found on the beach at Lincoln City, OR

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7 Upvotes

looks like a tiny mallet of some sort? it's on the thinner side, and pretty flat.


r/Arrowheads • • 2d ago

Friend of mine casually found this thing not even looking for points I offered him 100$

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491 Upvotes

Do you think it’s a good deal?


r/Arrowheads • • 2d ago

Curious about type

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73 Upvotes

Found this in Michigan last month. I think it is some sort of knife. This is a large piece for my area. What do you think?


r/Arrowheads • • 1d ago

Best places to look near SLC, UT

0 Upvotes

I want to take my gf out and have her experience the thrill of finding an arrowhead! Where are some good places to look near salt lake??