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How to Identify Southwestern Arrowheads

Arrowheads can be found all across the world, and in large quantities in North America. Some of the oldest arrowheads found are the Clovis and Folsom Projectile points, found in New Mexico. These points date back to over 10,000 years and are the earliest of their kind, representing a distinguished classification of points only found in the Americas. Some of these points can be found as far east as North Carolina, due to human migration after the end of the last ice age. Southwestern arrowheads, however, typically have key features helpful in their identification, that set them apart from arrowheads or projectile points found in other parts of North America.

Instructions

- 1
  Identify the shape and contour of the arrowhead. Southwestern arrowheads are grouped into categories of specific shape. Such shapes include: side notched, corner notched, articulate, basal shape, lanceolate, leaf, stemmed and triangle shaped. These features can be cross-referenced with online arrowhead identification guides such as Projectilepoints.net.
- 2
  Determine the type of material used in fabricating the arrowhead. Southwestern arrowheads were typically made from obsidian or chert, due to the wide availability of volcanic rock in California, Arizona and New Mexico. Obsidian is a black, glass-like rock, which can be sharpened to a point that is as sharp as a surgical scalpel.
- 3
  Identify the notches at the base of the arrowhead. The notches typically are thought to aid in securing the arrowhead point to the arrow shaft, however, these notches are representative of a male or female distinction, particularly in the Navajo universe. The female arrowhead will lack any visible notches near the base, and is smooth and slender, representing a weak or submissive protection. A male arrowhead will have deep notches at the corners, and this arrowhead represents aggressive and authoritative protection. The male members of the tribe generally performed all the hunting. The arrowheads were also used in ceremonies and presented as gifts, with the belief that they held either a male or female dominant spirit, to aid in hunting, or the need for rain and other factors influencing the lives of the Navajo.

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