Arrowhead hunting and Indian Artifacts

We are very fortunate to live out in the country. We also know many farmers to get permission to walk their land. Freshly plowed fields that have had a good rain are the best.

I prefer fields that are in high places. I usually have quite alot of luck on the slope coming down from the top. Usually if you can find chips you know the indians have been there. If you find shards of pottery then they probably lived there for a time.

It is a wonderful hobby. But you must know that you will not always find something everytime that you go out. And after a really good rain you can look the field all over again.

The arrowheads shown are just a couple that I have found myself. These particular points are Morrow Mountain type. I think that they are some pretty good examples of what can be found in our area.
Morrow mountain points are from the Middle Archiac. Making them about 6500 to 5000 years old. Morrow Mountain points are named after Morrow Mountain in Stanley County, North Carolina.

Other arrowheads that are quite common to this area are Guilford, Stanley, Badin, Pee Dee. Rowan, Yadkin, Uwarrie and Savannah. With all except for the Savannah Points being naved for places in North Carolina. Of course there are many more than I have named and even a few that I can't even name. Since points in plowed fields are rarely perfect in shape. It is sometimes hard to determine exactly what you have found.

Although arrowhead points are probably the easiest to recognize, they are not the only things that can be found. There are other treasures that can also be collected. Look over all those chips very carefully. Some will be scrapers or drills, or even hoes and other implements. Maybe even an axe or a hand chopper.

I also collect bits of pottery. I love to look at the distinct decorations that are made into the outside of the pottery. Some are made with paddles,rocks, bones or even corn cobbs pressed into the surface. There are many variations in the designs allowing me to believe that there were many different tribes in the area at different times. You can also see difference in the color and thickness. Of course pottery does not date back as far as alot of the arrowhead points. Pottery was a closer to present day thing. Some of the earlier vessels and bowls were perhaps gourds or carved out rocks, or even carved out wood.

Just keep in mind that these were very smart people whom used whatever was available to them to live. Knives, hatchets, wood working tools, bows and arrows. Tools to cook, eat and drink. Tools to tan hides and build homes. Even tools to make clothing. And don't forget tools to grow crops.

Another thing to keep you eyes out for in my area of Richmond County is petrified wood. I have been finding quite alot in plowed fields lately, and also quartz crystals too.

Now if you are in northern north carolina don't forget to look for quartz rocks with gold in them. This is mostly in the Uwarrie area. These rocks are called specimans. They are worth their weight in gold. In the mountains you can find gems of many kinds.

So as you can see it really pays to look down and see what is underfoot. I do and I have found quite alot of collectables that way. So everyone have a wonderful time and good luck to you all.

Happy Hunting

Ahh, here is something new to me. Shown in the picture are gamestones. It is not really known specifically how they were used. Some say in games like our marbles. Others say to put in a leather bag and bust someone in the head with them. They are all hand chipped stone and range in size from about an inch to 2 inches. I would love to know more about them if anyone knows. See no telling what you can find.

Here are some guilford straight base. Some that I found in the area.

This was a beautiful arrowhead found by my husband.