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How to Identify the Indian Arrowheads in Virginia

While there are over 1,000 different designs of Indian arrowheads, knowing that one came from a tribe in Virginia will narrow your search. Shape, material and size must be taken into consideration when identifying the arrowhead. Remember that each time you find an arrowhead you hold in your hand a symbol of the way of life of a nearly extinct culture. The arrowhead represents the food that kept the culture alive and the warriors who protected their people.

Instructions

- 1
  Bear in mind that the Indian tribes in Virgina were the Catawba, the Cherokee, the Croatan, the Tutelo, the Yuchi, the Tuscarora, the Saponi and the tribes of the Powhatan Confederacy. This will help you narrow down your matching of arrowhead to Indian tribe.
- 2
  Identify as closely as you can the shape of the arrowhead. Be general in your identification. For example, is the arrowhead nearly oval shaped or square shaped? Identify any markings on the arrowhead. For example, are there ridges, notches or designs etched onto the arrowhead? Does the arrowhead have a stem? It is crucial to identify as many details as you can so you can narrow your matching down to a few possibilities instead of a hundred. For example the Yuchi tribe of Virginia had wide flat arrowheads that were nearly square-shaped while Cherokee arrowheads were long, narrow and triangular.
- 3
  Try to identify the material the arrowhead is made of, as this can narrow your search. For example, the Catawba Indians made their arrowheads out of wood and shells while the Cherokee favored flint.
- 4
  Add to your list of characteristics the size of your arrowhead. How long is the arrowhead and how wide is the arrowhead? What is the ratio of arrowhead to stem? For example the Tutelo Indians made the stems on their arrowheads nearly as long and wide as the actual arrowhead while the Cherokee had short narrow stems if at all.
- 5
  Use the facts you have collected of size, shape and material and cross-check with known arrowhead identifications. If you are lucky, you will find an exact match--more often than not you will find arrowheads that are similar to yours but not exactly the same. Go for one that matches the most characteristics from your arrowhead. Consult a website or book to help you identify your arrowhead.

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