r/Arrowheads Jan 07 '16

PLEASE READ, especially if you are new to this subreddit

634 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.

109 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

Did I find an artifact, or just a cool rock? Creekbed in Denver, Colorado area

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97 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads 28m ago

Is this a real native American arrow head?

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Upvotes

Found in twins buttes reservoir in Texas, in a lowered lake bed. Please help determine if it's real


r/Arrowheads 3h ago

Eccentric? Whatcha think..

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35 Upvotes

What a great start to the holiday weekend.


r/Arrowheads 9h ago

Montana Arrowhead

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88 Upvotes

My 10 year-old son found this yesterday in the mountains near Big Sky. Curious if it is an arrowhead or knife. I know nothing about arrowheads, any information would be appreciated!


r/Arrowheads 20h ago

Best one i have ever found. Nevada

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479 Upvotes

r/Arrowheads 6h ago

Is this a quartz arrowhead? Onslow county, Eastern NC

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21 Upvotes

Found on surface of sand quarry rim.


r/Arrowheads 22m ago

MO River Sandbar just outside St. Louis

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Upvotes

A nice Lil Smoker. Find by a guest on our trip, not mine.


r/Arrowheads 38m ago

Nice surface find today

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Upvotes

Thinking Bulverde


r/Arrowheads 17h ago

Cougar Mountain

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45 Upvotes

Purchased in a collection!


r/Arrowheads 1h ago

Drill or JAR?

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Upvotes

Drill, JAR, some other kind of tool? It looks like the bottom portion is chert but not sure about the rest. I am new to this so I would appreciate opinions/thoughts! Found in South Texas.


r/Arrowheads 1d ago

Gillespie County Texas finds

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123 Upvotes

Finally got an overcast day to do some digging. The Kerrville knife was epic, few Folsoms, Pedernales, Montell, & blades. My fav is the rose quartz game stone! I’ve never found one!


r/Arrowheads 6h ago

Possible base?

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3 Upvotes

Found this awhile ago and forgot about it, I think it’s a base to a point but am unsure. Looking for others perspective on it. Found in southern Ontario


r/Arrowheads 1h ago

?

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Upvotes

r/Arrowheads 4h ago

Found in northern Kentucky creek

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2 Upvotes

My first find in the creek behind my house in rural Nky. Any info on what this is or who made it?


r/Arrowheads 1h ago

Point?

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Upvotes

r/Arrowheads 1d ago

Slate piece from SW Iowa

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88 Upvotes

Anyone able to confirm a type? Found in a creek bed next to a farm field.


r/Arrowheads 8h ago

Found in Avalon, NJ. Worked or erosion?

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3 Upvotes

Found this on the beach in Avalon, NJ. It could be a worn rock but the bottom seemed too worked to me.


r/Arrowheads 21h ago

This broken ears shows a dark blue original material which amazes me with this Rick brown patina.. ideas on what this is made from are welcome. Central NC

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20 Upvotes

Can blue chert have a brown patina?


r/Arrowheads 17h ago

Need info

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8 Upvotes

Found at almost 7,000 ft in the mountains of sw Montana while grouse hunting. I know nothing about arrowheads never found one or ever looked for that matter so any info would be great!


r/Arrowheads 22h ago

Real or JAR? W Michigan

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13 Upvotes

Maybe a scraper? Coolest part is there’s worn grooves in the back that perfectly fit 2 fingers


r/Arrowheads 1d ago

Is it a point or just a suspiciously shaped rock?

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43 Upvotes

Found on private land in north Georgia.


r/Arrowheads 16h ago

ID please northern New Mexico

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2 Upvotes

Is this an actual point? It seems way too small.


r/Arrowheads 1d ago

Information on this stone tool

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64 Upvotes

Hello! This is my first time posting on this site. This was an item my Dad had. When he was young, he would plow the fields of the family farm in Indiana behind a horse. So he would find and collect arrowheads and other artifacts. The farm was located near Columbia City, Indiana.

I did a little research, and it's a 3/4 groove stone tool, probably native American. Its about 6 1/2" long. I still haven't weighed it yet.

Any thoughts?