Lucky Find

[Benelli]

I was out prepping soil yesterday for some spring planting.

Shown below is what I found last time I turned the ground. Any ideas on use or age? I live in SW Barry Co. Given its size I would think it would be a spear head, it weighs more than one of my current arrows with broadhead. It is chert and still very sharp.

I’ll definately have my eyes to the ground this spring looking for more than just tracks:)


http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/user_gallery/Benelli/spear.jpg

[Airoh]

Wow! Great find.

[Aspen Hill Adventures]

Looks like a spear point. Arrowheads are real small. You might see if there is a local historical society in your area that could tell you the origin, age and tribe. Pretty cool find, frame it and hang it on a wall.

[Steve]

Very cool.

[StumpJumper]

I dunno, there is no petina at all, and it's not chert either. I've never seen any flint like that in Michigan before.

I don't mean to criticize it, if you really found it in the garden it's probably real, but I've held thousands in my hand and I've observed hundreds of collections and from what I can see it's a repro. Is it possible someone dropped it in your garden? If not then look good in your garden and see if you can find any flint flakes, or more arrowheads. A better picture would be good.

One that nice is usually never alone!

[Benelli]

Thanks for the input!

I found the head after tilling soil on a trail back in the woods I planted with some clover, it was actually a few months after I tilled and the rain had exposed it and there it was laying there one day, probably walked over it a hundred times. I’ve only lived here for a few years, my neighbor has found about four or five pieces at his place over the years, none as nice as this one though.

Stump, what do you mean by petina? Is that a term for glossiness or shine? It is chert, flint, or some form of silica dioxide based on the hardness (scratches glass).

Thanks for the info and links Trout, I’ll see what I can find out. They do have a historical museum up in Hastings with a good collection of artifacts and some staff with experience with the local stuff. Tough to get up there for me during their open hours. I also like Ann’s idea of framing.

Again, thanks for the input and I’ll let you know if I find anything out!

[Big Game]

Nice find. Let us know if you find more. I've only found one in my lifetime and it was a real treasure. I was a teenager and you would have thought I won the lotto that day.

[stevebrandle]

As Trout mentioned, the flint used to make arrowheads can be many different colors. There were several places I could find points near my boyhood home, and some of the oldest points were made of the more colorful flint.

There was a place near the rivers where I could also find pieces of pottery. Most of them were small, but once in awhile a piece with some decorative designs were found.

[StumpJumper]

Yes petina is a sort of glaze they get over them. It's definately a nice one. I don't have my books here, but It could be 1500 years old. Maybe 800 as Trout said. 800 would be early woodland (I believe, I'm a little rusty on the specific time periods) but point designs were pretty consistent per time period. I've found some as old as 3000 yrs old which are paleo period. That point has some archaic characteristics, making it older than an early woodland. I'll look into it, and let you know for sure.

[StumpJumper]

I sure wish you had a better picture. Tyr a pic with it behind a lighter background, maybe red. Is that stone a real deep dark blue with greyish blue verigation? If it is, I've found thousands of flakes at a certain site of that kind, but never a whole point. I've been waiting along time to find one of those!

[Benelli]

Stump, thanks for the interest and input. Here are a few more pictures, the focus isn’t all that great but perhaps the contrast is better. The stone is more grey/brown in my eyes (we all see color different). Right near the tip on each side (last ¼ inch or so) it seems to have a hint of a blue tint, nothing significant. Hope it helps and thanks again.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/user_gallery/Benelli/spear2.jpg

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/user_gallery/Benelli/spear3.jpg

[StumpJumper]

Wow! what a difference! That is definately real. What a find!

I'd be digging every inch of my property up!

Is there alot of fire cracked rock out there too? It's usually dark and looks like it's been exploded.(because it has) Has that soil ever been turned out there before?

[Benelli]

Stump, thanks for the authenticity verification from your end, that gives me a little more confidence before I call Mr. Love as Trout suggested.

Haven’t found any other signs yet, maybe this spring, and I will keep my eyes open.

Anyway, found on a little peninsula of high land (about 3-5 acres) that is entirely wooded that juts out into a huge wetland. When I found the tip and compared notes with my neighbor we just kind of joked that this must have always been a good hunting / camping spot. The area was used as pasture near the turn of the century, and the hardwoods have taken over.

Just turned the soil on the old logging trail, waiting for some rain and keeping my eyes to the ground :)