Tips for Finding Native American Artifacts

There is something special about looking down and seeing an arrowhead (point) lying in the dirt, or gazing across a plowed field after a rain and seeing the glint of freshly uncovered points. For many, finding Indian artifacts quickly moves from hobby to obsession. I have hunted these articles and studied the best places to locate them for several years. Here's what I have learned, but by no means is it comprehensive.

I was told early on that the best places to hunt points were bluffs overlooking water. Rivers and flowing streams are ideal, because they have been around since time immemorial, and have not undergone renovations. Most lakes and ponds are man-made, and usually are poor locations to hunt. Of course, all lakes are little more than dammed up rivers, so theoretically there could be places where artifacts are found. Many burial grounds are found in high spots overlooking water.

Plowed fields near rivers or creeks are also excellent sources of artifacts. During the winter, these fields are often freshly plowed and left fallow. On warm days, the earth softens and can be walked. It takes little more than knocking on a door and asking permission to do so. The tractors have done the digging and turning that is so often required, so all that is left is spotting them and picking them up.

Another way to discover artifacts is by dredging creeks and small rivers by hand. All that is needed is a bucket and sieve. I've seen sieves made with little more than pine and mesh. A small rope can be tied to the end and tethered to oneself while using the bucket to scoop up the bottom. Pour it in the sieve and removed the large rocks by hand. Shake the small material back and forth and skim through the rest. I have seen massive collections of points accrued in this manner.