Arrowheads Are Not Hard to Find
However, I was lucky enough to find about a dozen arrowheads, along with a bag full of pottery sherds, when land was being cleared for a lake. If I had only known then what I know now, I could have built a substantial collection in that one place, and I also could have found many more productive sites within walking distance from my home that do not exist today because of suburban sprawl.
And as long as that lake holds water, I'll never find another arrowhead there.
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It's Easier Than You Might Think!
A big part of the equation, in my opinion, nothing else even comes close, is training the eye. Seasoned hunters really aren't looking for relics, per se - they are looking for the signs that lead them to relics. Once you spot debitage pick it up and study it. Draw conclusions as to what makes the debitage you have found different than the rest of the rocks you see all the time. Now look seriously for artifacts, walking in circles away from where you found the chips and flakes. Cover every piece of ground. If you find something, go back over every area that you think you've already looked. Once you have covered the area thoroughly, remember the spot and go back after a good rain and do it all over again. Sometimes it takes several rains to turn up new artifacts - depends on the site and the rainfall.
Another common mistake beginners make is hunting for arrowheads - usually only in the shape of a Christmas tree - but ignoring the other tools that the Native Americans used in their daily lives such as scrappers, gravers, and choppers. I get a thrill every time I find an arrowhead, but fact is an arrowhead alone doesn't tell much of a story. I frame all of my finds by site, not type for that very reason.
Eventually, as you begin to find debitage and finished artifacts, you'll train your eye to key in on things that look like an artifact because of shape, mineral type, color and patina. It will certainly come in time and probably sooner than you think.
In many ways Native Americans were not that much different than modern man, so when you are looking for an area to hunt think where you would would want to walk, hunt and live. Trails were often across the highest ground and in hilly areas always crossed the passes. They lived near water, but not in it, so the first few rises from "old" water will probably be productive if there are cleared areas to search. Old water are rivers, streams, and lakes that have existed for thousands of years. Yes, I said thousands of years. Most people who haven't thought much about the subject, think these relics of the past are a few hundred years old and maybe date back to the first European explorers. Actually, only the most recent Native Americans are "only" hundreds of years old and finding 3000 - 7,000 years old relics is common. Native Americans left the Stone Age not long after the Europeans arrived.
Archaeologists and anthropologists do not all agree when the first Native Americans arrived on this continent, but most do believe that the first ones walked across an ice land bridge - which disappeared as the earth warmed - at least 12,000 years ago. From even that low estimate we can be certain that millions of Indians walked this continent before the Europeans arrived. That means that they left a lot of artifacts behind, and in fact, most of it will never be found.
Debitage
This is what debitage looks like in the field:

Most of the material in that photo is shale. There is a little sandstone. The material that appears mostly white is chert, which does not normally flake and chip naturally.
Here is a scanned photo of debitage:

Debitage and stone tools in my part of the country is mostly chert. I also find artifacts made of jasper and quartz.
Most new hunters are surprised at the amount of debitage that is out there once they learn what it looks like.
Found 11th and 12th of February 2008
This site borders a creek that runs through a pass in a mountain. Smaller creeks also drain into the main creek at this site. The more water the better. Passes are good because this will be the place where humans and game traveled. Rises, like this one has, near the water makes the site even better because Native Americans could live there without fear of being flooded. Relics can be found near and in the water, but the rises are usually where you find the most.
A site like this is generally going to have a lot of lithic debris like chips, flakes, cores, and cobble. Once you begin seeing this stuff, look hard for artifacts. They are there.
These are examples of what you can find once you have located a good site and know what to look for:



It rained some on the 13th. We went back to the same site on the 14th and found these in the same area:

It pays to keep searching a good site. New rains uncover more artifacts. Erosion washes them to new areas. Shadows hide. Bright light washes out. Artifacts hide behind bushes and dead wood. I've found artifacts only because I stopped to tie my shoe. All of it will never be found.
If You Only Buy One Reference Book
This is the one you need
Arrowhead Hunting and Collecting Resources
I have compiled a selection of good books web sites, forums, and links pertaining to arrowhead hunting and collecting.-
Arrowhead Hunting and Collecting Resources
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I have many hobbies, but arrowhead hunting captures my imagination in a way that the others haven't. The anticipation of knowing that it is very possible to find an artifact at any given time that was last held by a human several thousand years ago i...
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Optimum Framing Method for Arrowheads
Best Source that I've Found
The best way to display and protect your artifacts is in a wood lock down frame, using foam on the inside to softly press your artifacts against the glass. I have bought these frames from this eBay seller and I have been very pleased with price and quality.
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Bessemer Alabama Indian Mounds
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The Bessemer Mounds are located at a bend of Valley Creek, which flows into the Warrior River twenty-five miles downstream. The site is located in Jefferson County, within the city limits of Bessemer, Alabama near the site of Old Jonesboro. The Besse...
Reader Feedback
Billco wrote...
in reply to Jason Wilson By looking at photos and what Ive been told it dates to the Mid Archaic period. Which would make it much older than other points Ive found or is the site much older than I thought? Ive also found White glazed pottery shards here. Any thoughts?
A site like you've described is more than likely going to have been inhabited off and on for thousands of years. The fact you've found the pottery indicates that the site was used more recently than the Archaic era, but was also probably used much farther back to than that. Cultures were separated by thousands of years. The Ancients who settled there late no doubt picked up things just like you are doing, sometimes using them - other times just wondering about them and the people that used them (just as you are). It's easy to overlook that much more time separates the eras than the end of the last one from us - much more.
Sound like you've got a great place to hunt.
Jason Wilson wrote
I find lots of artifacts on my farm in Wilkes Co. Ga. Wilkes Co is just north of Agusta and my farm is in the extream NE cornor of the state near the Broad river and Savannaha River. Today that confluance is under Clarks Hill lake. I have over 100 arrow heads anda few gallon bags if pottery shards. My fiancee' had never found anything before and got excited about going to look for them. So I waited untill we had a good rain and and took her to my most productive spot. Its a flat top ridge with what looks like terraces down the sides with springs and creeks around it. We were looking on the top and I purposelywalked over three very nice points in hopes she would find them. She instead found a 4 1/2 inch long by 2 1/2 in wide perfect spear head. By looking at photos and what Ive beed told it dates to the Mid Archic period. Which would make it much older than other points Ive found or is the site much older than I thought? Ive also found White glazed pottery shards here. Any thoughts?
OhMe wrote...
Wow I used to live in Jackson County Alabama in Scottsboro. In fact, I graduated from Scottsboro High School in 1966. Unfortunately, I don't get back that way much but have many fond memories. Arrowhead hunting isn't one of them but I have hunted for Arrowheads in upstate South Carolina and found a few. You have done an great job on this lens and I enjoyed it very much. Thank you.
Billco wrote...
in reply to jasonsullins That place you mention is probably going to be good. The key is going to be finding areas near there that are scraped, i.e. dirt roads, power lines, agriculture. The overhangs are not necessarily any better than the surrounding area. As you describe it, what would make the area possibly productive is the creek and having to walk around the overhang. If you've got an area, where there are high rock outcroppings on both sides and an (old) creek running through it, you've got a place where man has always frequented. Every old creek in the United States, probably the world, has artifacts. Alabama has more than its fair share. Find chips and flakes, pick up enough of them, and you will begin finding arrowheads.... I live in Jefferson County, but that's not why I find stuff. There's just as much in Jackson County. If you've spent much time in the woods, you've stepped on arrowheads. Once you train your eye, you'll know what I mean.
Arrowhead Books at Amazon
Post And Get Feedback About Your Finds At These Sites:
- TreasureNet
- A good place to discuss and post your finds.

- Prehistoric Relic Owners Society
- Another good place to discuss artifacts.





