A Comparison for Consideration

[arappaho]

Folks seem to have a hard time distinguishing between
arrowheads and earlier projectile points. To most folks they are
all "arrowheads". And understanding the significance of the
technological change that took place from the Archaic period to
the Woodland period would help, but we can't get into that here.
( I hear that collective sigh of relief.
Suffice it to say that the transition from the Archaic to the
Woodland period probably took 1000 years or more, depending
on how quickly different cultures chose to adopt the "New" ways.
Would we notice a Period change if it were happening today?
Look at transportation. What were we driving 100 years ago?
Look at television, and reception.....

Anyway, a pic is worth a thousand words, so here's two.
This first pic is a frame of Archaic points. They are all over 4000
years old and none of them is an arrowhead. Also, they are all
made of NC's most predominant lithic material, Rhyolite.



This second frame are all from the same small site. It was largely
a Woodland site, but I found a few Archaic stragglers there, too.


The row down the middle, top to bottom, are Archaic, as well as
a few others, but most are arrowheads.
The one in the very middle is pre-Archaic, or late Paleo. It is a
Palmer and dates to about 9000 BC, and yet it's about the same
size as an arrowhead.

Hope this comparison will help some.
Joe

[amythestguy]

Nice setup you got there. Very good presentation. Thanks for the info that I did not know

[nose2ground]

nice indeed! But I think I am still a little confused - being that I am better at hands-on learning, you can feel free to send both dispays to me for further study!

did I mention that I learn REAL slow?? ;D

thanks for sharing Joe!

[amythestguy]

James I think you mean REEL slow

[sabre52]

Joe: You know this whole archaic, recent, paleo thing has always fascinated me. When in California, I had the opportunity to dig several private sites and surface collect others which were well known paleo sites. Thing is, while digging sites I knew were fairly recent, wood posts still in place in the pit bottoms, recent arrowheads etc I was still finding points of obvious paleo styles. Since dart points are basically just spear points, I often wonder how many aging errors are made by using style as an identifying feature. After all a projectile point is functional so why wouldn't lots of point styles for atlatl darts simply endure though the ages but instead be used on spears. Instead we get all these identification books saying this point is a such and such and is x number of years old based on style alone. Shoot, I knew a friend who farmed cotton on the ancient bed of Lake Tulare and his collection of points from the one set of fields showed almost every style, type and material I've ever seen pictured from all across the country. Short of known site ID , stratification, obsidian hydration dating or other scientific techniques, I've often thought most point dating is strictly guesswork. I can just see some recent Pomo Indian picking up a paleo point and thinking " Hey, that would make a cool spear point or knife" and knapping him out a point us modern guys find and say whoo pee I've got me a Borax Lake paleo point *L*....Mel

[arappaho]

Yeah, I know what you mean, Mel. It can get complicated and
sometimes there just plain aren't any definate answers.
And, accepted "doctrines" thirty years ago are known to be no
longer true today.
Projectile point type names is a national travesty with each state
having their own names for the same points. And then there are
so many variations of the same style. That's why I tell people I
am only familiar with what we have here in NC. The same point,
from the same time period is called one thing in NC and some
thing else in GA., let alone Texas or California.

As far as multi-component sites go, they are common, especially
during the Archaic. The same sites were used over and over for
thousands of years. And, a personal obsevation, is that
Woodland sites were also, many times, the preferred sites during
Paleo times. And, then, to complicate matters, it is known that
some Paleo styles were duplicated by some Woodland cultures.
They would even rework earlier points to suit their own use. I
have found many a Woodland point or tool made out of a broken
point or flake first used at a much earlier time.

The only way that I know of to come up with some of the answers
is by stratigraphic excavation. Once enough sites are dug and if
you keep finding the same material at the same depth then you
can start feeling fairly safe about placing it at a certain time.
There are generalzations that can be made but we are very far
from having all the answers and probably never will.
But that's no reason to stop digging!

Joe

[stevebarr]

Arapphaho,

I found these little babies out in my yard recently. Apparently, on the next hill over from me, there was a major encampment where the Cherokee lived for centuries. That's now private property, and you can't collect there.



The one in the middle looks a little rough. I don't know much about artifacts, so I found myself wondering if maybe this was one a kid made during "arrowhead class" in school. The big one was obviously made by a pro.

These were all found within about two feet of each other, on the surface.

Uh-oh! I probably shouldn't have posted them. I bet I'll look out my window tomorrow morning and see Rebecca, Leah, Becky and Geode Pat about 4 feet down in a fresh hole!

[earthnhands]

Yes, Steve....you didn't show me the other ones. hmmm. You must have found those after I was there. Leah found her first one ever this weekend and it is a real beauty! A whole point no less.

[JohnD]

Joe, a question from a person who has absolutely no knowledge of artifacts. What is a point and what is an arrowhead? I mean the difference between them?
I've spent time in the Bad Lands of SD and not found any points, but have found over 20 "scrapers". I don't see scrapers mentioned much when it comes to artifacts. why?
JohnD

[arappaho]

Well, that's a reel good question, Steve.
I don't have a reel good answer, but that's thinking!
You will see different pieces from time to time that, for some
reason, either look like they were made by a child or for a child.
You have to wonder, but reely, without having been there when
it was made, that's about all you can do. Wonder.
The only other thing I can think of would be to take another
rockhound that knows alittle something about artifacts with you
over to that site so you could look around for more 'evidence".

Seriously tho, that middle one does look a little rough. And the
rounded "lancelot" base doesn't fit with the whole one there.
If it were made by a child, and you want to put the two artifacts
into the same time period because they were found at the same
spot, then the child would try and copy his fathers perfectly. He
wouldn't have even thought about rounding the bottom like that.
I'm wondering, looking at the point of it, if it was not some sort
of perforater used, for example, to poke holes in hide for sewing?
It's hard to say for sure without a closer look, ( and even then),
but if the first little piece is a broken point tip, then it would be
from an older period type point. The lancelot base on the middle
one is also an indication of an older period than the last one. And
I have to wonder if the base on the last one isn't broken a bit, or
is it whole?
That's the problem with this archaeology business; the more
answers you get, the more questions you have. And that never
changes.
Last but not least, I know they're just artifacts, but they're rocks
too, and you can clean them up the same way.
Look forward to seeing you at the Reel!

You too, JohnD. A "Point" is just another name for arrowheads,
spearheads, darts, or any other projectile point. The full and
proper name is "chipped stone projectile point", or CSPP, so many
times they are just called points for short. And scrapers aren't
completely overlooked by collectors. Infact, as artifacts get harder
to find, they will become more collectible. But they really don't
look that good in a frame. You can't really see much, so you just
don't see them on display very often.
I find it hard to believe that you have never found atleast one
arrowhead. But, as Amguy talked about in one of his earlier
posts, there are "kill sites" in SD where they would run a herd of
buffalo off a cliff, or somehow trap them for slaughter. And around
these sites you can find hide scrapers and other butchering tools.

I don't know if you made it to the lake with the girls this weekend
or not, ( haven't seen the Trip Report yet), but it sounds like you
might be able to find an arrowhead there.

Joe

[JohnD]

Joe, I guess it's what you're looking specifically for when you're surface collecting.
On my trips to SD I never "saw" any artifacts. Then one day a guy showed me a scraper he had just found - the next day I found 3 and each day after that I would find one.
In SC and GA my collecting partner usually finds a point whenever we walk a field or walk a shoreline. Finally I found one and since then I do find them on many of our trips. Also have a spear "point" from NC and a hatchet from GA.
JohnD

[botanyme]

Well, we need Miss Leah to post pics of her great finds from Tennessee this weekend past. Her very first points and they are beautiful!
And Joe, that is very interesting info and great pics. Will show that to hubby tonight.
b

[jewelonly]

Becky,

I'll try to figure out how to take and post some pics of those finds...
What a memorable trip!!! You all are awesome! I'll definitely take them to the Reel dig to show Joe so he can identify them.

See you soon,

Leah

[arappaho]

Ooooh. I thought for sure we would be seeing a pic of your
infamous First Arrowhead Find, Leah! But congratulations and
look forward to seeing it and you at the Inauguaral Reel Mine
Rock Swap and Dig!

Now that sounds more like it, Mr.D! And you are absolutely
right. Makes all the difference in the world what your eyes are
trained to see. Once you find one, the floodgates are open!
I guess I better bring Leah a frame 'cause she's going to need it
for all her upcoming artifactual finds Reel soon!

Joe

[jewelonly]

Hi Joe,

I am looking forward to seeing you and showing you my finds too!! I hope you are right about the floodgates opening... I have always wanted to find an arrowhead, but it was truly an awe inspiring experience to pick the point up and realize that I was holding a beautiful and perfect piece of ancient history in my hand. I am so thankful to have had that opportunity!

See you before too long,

Leah

[scott]

Great info Joe. Thanks for the post. I would never have found a point if it weren't for Joe because I was never actively looking for them. Makes perfect since for a rock hound to look for points too.

Scott

[di66er]

Very good information and pictures Wow that is a super display! I find artifacts here in Minnesota once in a while, they always surprise you when they appear! Now I have a better idea of what they are ... Thanks Joe!