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How to Identify and Date American Arrowheads

Finding a Native American arrowhead can be a thrill for anyone interested in history. Archaeologists have found approximately 1,200 types of arrowheads that were used by Native Americans. Most of these arrowheads were used for hunting, but some were used during battle with other tribes. To identify the type of arrowhead you have and the time period that it is from, you'll need to know the material it's made of, it's design and where it was found.

Instructions

- 1
  Pinpoint exactly where the arrowhead was found by asking the person who gave you the arrowhead. If that person doesn't know, continue tracing the purchasers of the arrowhead until you find the original location. Identifying where the arrowhead was used will narrow the list of arrowhead types to about 200 options.
- 2
  Determine what the arrowhead is made of to further narrow the location where the arrowhead was most likely used. Some materials are native to specific regions, like chert to Illinois.
- 3
  Identify the shape of the arrowhead. Note the shape of the stem if it's stemmed; if it's stemless, note whether it is fluted or not. If it has notches in it, determine if the notches are in the side or the corners of the arrowhead.
- 4
  Find a website or book that identifies types of arrowheads based on the area they are found in, the material they are made from and their design. One option is "Arrowheads &Stone Artifacts: A Practical Guide for the Surface Collector and Amateur Archaeologist" by C.G. Yeager. Locate the type of arrowhead that corresponds to your arrowhead and identify it. The book also lists the approximate date your particular type of arrowhead was made.

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