As outdoor enthusiasts finding artifacts such as arrowheads can be an astonishing feeling. The curiosities and wonderment will begin to swirl around in your mind. An item so simple could have been the difference in a life-or-death scenario. Was it used while hunting or in a battle long ago? Did it find its mark or fly astray? Did a great warrior make it, maybe a young brave? Some of the arrowhead’s mysteries will stay unknown, but we can collect and preserve these stones of secrets.
*Note* To hunt and collect artifacts you will need to be on private property. Under almost all circumstances You also can not lawfully dig artifacts from Native American burial sites. Hunting, collecting, and disturbing arrowheads is illegal on public property! Before adventuring out, ensure you are aware of all rules and regulations for your state, and the areas you plan to search. Get permission from landowners!
Arrowhead hunting can be a fun, relaxing, and educational time for the entire family. They are not always easy to find though. It takes patience and perseverance, especially for those just starting to hunt them. Knowing where and even when to look can drastically increase your chances of finding these long-forgotten treasures.
Research
To have the best chance of locating arrowheads, you must know where to look. Knowing where, starts with knowing about the Tribes and Cultures that lived in your area. Did they roam often or stay in permanent dwellings? Where would they set-up camps and/or villages? The current region I live in comprised of the Adena and Hopewell cultures followed by the Miami (Myaamia) Osage (Wazhazhe Manzhan) and the Shawnee (Shawandasse Tula) Tribes. Most of which had permanent villages and would set-up camps during hunting parties. The Adena and Hopewell cultures would build large mounds that several groups would visit and utilize to bury their fallen. The Miami, Osage, and Shawnee tribes primarily lived in wigwams and farmed plus sending out hunting parties for weeks at a time to collect food for the tribe. My area was also part of many battles including the Beaver Wars. This information tells me a few things about where to search for arrowheads. I know there will be burial mounds that can not be touched, but there could be multiple small villages in the area. I know my area consisted mainly of farmers and would have larger villages where the ground was farmable. The Beaver wars tells me of mass destruction, and relocation of many tribes.
Where to locate villages and camps
Villages and camps needed to be in areas that offered the essentials of life: water, food, and shelter. Rivers, streams, with nearby high ground are great areas to search for arrowheads. The rivers and streams would be areas to hunt for food and collect water. The high ground nearby would offer protection from other tribes and be good areas to search. Remember when researching the terrain has changed over the centuries. Old maps can be more beneficial than modern maps. When settlers first started venturing west, they would hand draw maps, many of which you can find photos of on-line. These might not be 100% accurate but viewing multiple hand drawn maps of an area can show you things modern maps cannot.
Our Roads Today
Many of the roads we use today, were cut, and made by the Natives. They were only trails at the time, but the Native Americans made these trails to cross rivers in the best areas. To travel the easiest route during hunting parties and or when forced to re-locate by the US Government or other tribes. As these were the best routes, they continued to be use and eventually turned into roads that are still used today. Roadways that follow streams and rivers could offer many areas for arrowheads to be found.
Fields
Fields offer excellent areas to search. The farmers plows and discs will turn-up soil and uncover arrowheads that have been buried. Fields can be hard to find undamaged ones though, they are a double-edged sword. The machinery that can help uncover them often breaks them too.
Forests
Hunting arrowheads in the woods can be challenging, but it’s also where a lot of hunting and fighting occurred. The topographic layout of the land will help you here. Look for areas where rain seems to travel from high to low lying land. Often these areas will wash the topsoil down and expose rocks and stones underneath. The “saddle” between two hills where a creek often forms leading into a stream could have exposed arrowheads over the years.
When to hunt for arrowheads
There are certain times throughout the year that offer advantages to finding arrowheads in different areas. Other times of the year may cause disadvantages in these areas. Using the weather to your benefit will help in locating and finding these treasures.
Springtime offers a lot of rain, and when farmers are preparing their fields. Rain can wash off loose topsoil and mud covering arrowheads making them easier to spot. Searching fields directly after they’ve been plowed is the best time to find them there. The plow will flip over the soil burying any vegetation and exposing the ground that was underneath.
Summertime can also be beneficial due to lower amounts of rain. During these times you will want to search creek beds, or around water sources where the grounds usually not exposed. Look in areas where stones may have previously washed into larger rocks or obstructions but cannot be seen when the water levels are up.
Fall offers another shot at some fields, after harvesting their crops, some fields will be prepped again for planting winter grasses. Be sure to look in fields before they are planted again.
Winter is the hardest time to find arrowheads especially the farther North you are. The ground is often frozen with little movement of the soil or covered in snow. Although streams and creeks can still be good areas as the water can be clearer in the winter months.
Arrowhead hunting is a wonderous and exciting outdoor activity that teaches us how the world we live in today all began. Learning about the cultures and tribes that were here before us, can teach us how people’s actions can impact the future. From the earliest cultures to some tribes that still live today. Preserving these treasures, helps to preserve history and ensure future generations understand how important nature was to past cultures and is today.
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