Do you love the outdoors? How about history? Do you love a good treasure hunt? If your answer is yes to any or all of these questions, then you might enjoy arrowhead collecting.
It isn’t an expensive hobby; quite the contrary. All you need is a good pair of tennis shoes or hiking boots and an observant pair of eyes, and you are all set.
You can’t just expect to walk into your backyard, however, and find a perfect artifact. You will probably have to do a little research into your area to find out if Native Americans once inhabited any of the lands close to you.
Visit your local library, chamber of commerce, and local colleges or universities. Once you have a general idea of where you need to look, you can’t just trespass on someone else’s land. You will need to approach the landowner, explain what you want to look for, and maybe even offer to give him or her part or all of the arrowheads. Chances are they will be thrilled that their land might yield something that is so significant to history and will gladly give you permission to treasure hunt and keep any treasure you might find.
If the land you wish to search is public property, then that is another story. Almost all public lands are off limits to artifact collectors. You can always check with the public official in charge of the land that you want to search.
Once you have become successful in finding a place to hunt, you now need to determine when you should hunt. Good lighting is essential for hunting the elusive arrowhead, so pick a bright, sunny day. If you are going to hunt in a field that has been recently plowed or excavated in some way, it would be a good idea to wait until a good rain has washed the dirt so that any arrowheads that have been plowed into the loose top soil can be washed off.
Determine what direction you are going to walk and plot your path methodically. You don’t want to waste precious time covering the same ground over and over again.
Some of the best places to look are shallow creeks and creek beds. If a creek is too rocky, however, it can be virtually impossible to find anything of value. Instead, walk farther up or down the creek and look for sand bars and sandier banks.
If you happen across an abundance of flint rock or stone that looks chipped or flaked, concentrate on that area. Most arrowheads were made from this type of rock or stone, though some were made out of bone. Don’t pick up every piece of suspicious looking flint or stone. Concentrate on finding a piece that actually looks as if it is at least a partial arrowhead, if not a perfectly formed one.
Remember, safety is still an issue. Always watch for snakes whether you are in a field, hiking through the woods, or wading in a creek. Walk carefully. Accidents can occur, and bones can get broken. Respect the land. If you do find the perfect arrowhead, don’t disturb the land by digging deeper. If you were to stumble across an abundance of arrowheads and other artifacts such as pipes, tools, and weapons, mark the spot and contact the landowner. You may have discovered a site that an archeologist or historian might use to educate others on Native American history.
Once you have found some arrowheads, you may want to find an expert on Native American artifacts and have him or her look at your findings. They may be able to determine what tribe and the time period that your arrowhead was created and used.
Above all, enjoy your surroundings. Even if you don’t find the perfect arrowhead, enjoying nature and all that it has to offer is never a bad idea!
