Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Preparation
Choose an arrowhead hunting area based on topographic maps or a familiarity with the natural landscape. Look in optimal places throughout South Texas with sparse vegetation and along or above the banks of streams and creek beds. Avoid coastal plains and prairies as the rich, deep soils will have swallowed artifacts.
Gather the minimal supplies needed for hunting: map, hiking shoes and stick or rod to turn over potential finds and save you from constant bending and kneeling. Bring a cloth or handkerchief to clean finds and a bag for keeping artifacts.
Wait until the area to be searched has just received a heavy rainfall or, conversely, dry conditions have caused water levels to fall and exposed new riverbank and sandbars. Manmade erosion such as tractor tilling and construction can also uproot artifacts and are suitable places to hunt for arrowheads.
Hunting
Arrive at the hunting area in the morning, when the light is best to throw arrowheads into relief and the Texas sun is at its least scorching. Sunrise in South Texas ranges from around 6:30 a.m. in the summer to 7:30 a.m. in the winter.
Investigate freshly exposed areas according to the type of recent erosion. Walk riverbanks and sandbars during a drought and uplands and terraces after heavy rains. Arrowheads stand out best from the soil when the ground is wet.
Turn over possible arrowheads with the stick or rod and mark locations on the map. Finding a hoard of arrowheads or other artifacts can represent an ancient village site that can continue to yield artifacts for years. Take pictures of finds in the field or while still in the dirt to help authenticate the arrowheads.
Wipe clean but do not polish any found arrowheads. Polishing or scraping artifacts can remove patina that might be used to help establish their authenticity.
Wrap objects in tissue paper and place gently in collecting bag. Carry the bag carefully to avoid breaking fragile pieces.