Pre Smith & Wesson???

I know enough to recognize artifacts when I find them in a field. It probably goes without saying be very careful buying from any source. Some are obviously reproductions, others not so easily discerned. I've never been a buyer of Indian artifacts. When I pick one up in a field or creek bank, I'm sure it's authentic.
 
Xfuzz, your comment about a sub division being in the spot where you found the mortar and pestle is the case here as well. A lot of artifacts remain to be found but with urban sprawl, lost farms, and changes in farming practices, there are fewer places left to look. The amount of farm land lost every year around here is very concerning and just plain sad.
 
All my stuff has been found in South Mississippi. I've got a lot of points, some arrow heads, knife points, some from throwing sticks. I've got a nice grind stone I found in a field, (this one is not local stone, probably trade from the Smoky Mountains) a 6" spear point I found on a Mississippi Island (probably from S. America), and drills and other stuff. Most of the good points I have found while hunting or around creek beds. The old campsites are mostly culls. I once found a bunch of beads that are probably Spanish trade beads. I still haven't found the illusive axe head.
 
Charlie, how about a pic of the 6" spear point from Mississippi Island? And, why do you think it probably came from South America?

(Looking up Mississippi Island on Google Maps, I find Mississippi islands, a bunch of them in the Gulf off Alabama, or various islands along the length of the Mississippi.... Where did you make your find?))

Don't archeologists use spearpoint styles as indicators of Native Americans arrival in the Western Hemisphere? E.g. Clovis? I have sort of a vague memory of reading that....
 
I find this stuff fascinating! Never had an interest when I was younger but now I'm getting older and losing family and thinking about life, after life and our purpose it gets me to thinking about time and the past a lot.
I think this is extremely neat and the stories and the past on how folks lived. I have talked with others that hunt relics and find that part of it interesting in itself, some have some really neat knowledge on where to look and how to date the stuff even though I see some arguments about it.
Then the guys that take the time to display it. Fabulous!
I don't do social media much but I do enjoy watching videos on YouTube and TikTok crzy enough of the men and women finding places on creeks and rivers and fields and finding relics and I'm mesmerized by it!
I'm not sure why I find it so cool but THANK Y'all for sharing! I enjoy looking and reading the stories.
Jason
West Tennessee
 
Jason I'm with you and share many of the same sentiments. I appreciate all of the pictures and stories from members. I'm a very new member on this forum and still learning the ropes, but thought there would be some interest in these early tools.
 
There is a guy on you tube who does what he calls mud larking on the banks of the Ohio River.

He shovels rocks into a small basket, and he then cleans the mud off somewhat like a gold mining sluicing concept. Once the mud is removed from the rocks he picks through them for arrow heads. All it takes is elbow grease a shovel a canoe, kayak or small john boat.

He recommended choosing a spot with steep banks or where there is a drainage coming into the river. He said the erosion over thousands of years actually moves the artifacts to the riverbank.

Doubt you would find one of those ax heads, but he found tons of broken arrowheads and a couple of really nice ones.

Are they very valuable? I know they are valuable in terms of historical but curious about how expensive they might be to purchase.
llowry61, I don't have any knowledge regarding potential value. I've never bought and sold and don't follow anything in the market. My interest has always been personal and I enjoy being outdoors. In years past I have done presentations for public schools and home school groups.

I can tell you for the amount of time I've spent looking for this stuff my hourly wage would be very very small!
 
I happen to have quite a few artifacrs...Plowed 'em up on the farm in Md. There must have been a village on the place way back when...lots of freshwater mussel shells and clam and oyster shells I plowed up a little treasure trove...probably a pre historic grave site. had a stone "knife"...or a very long spear point..a kinda elongated round headwacker and arrowheads and a beautiful carved pipe bowl in the shape of a buffalo head. I had 'em in my gunshop. A fellow came in one day and saw 'em made an offer. 2 years later he finally offered me enough and I sold the little collection. I still have stone axes and arrowheads. I have a small stone axe that is small like it was made for a kid. I like the sharpened stone axe in the above pics
 
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Charlie, how about a pic of the 6" spear point from Mississippi Island? And, why do you think it probably came from South America?

(Looking up Mississippi Island on Google Maps, I find Mississippi islands, a bunch of them in the Gulf off Alabama, or various islands along the length of the Mississippi.... Where did you make your find?))

Don't archeologists use spearpoint styles as indicators of Native Americans arrival in the Western Hemisphere? E.g. Clovis? I have sort of a vague memory of reading that....

Found on Petit Bois Island at the mouth of the Pascagoula River over 30 years ago. My kids and I were picking up seashells, of which there were many of them because few people get out and walk this island. We don't grow rocks around here big enough to make a point this size. There are zero rocks on this island. I'm guessing someone many years ago stuck a fish or something with this point South of here and it washed up where I found it amongst a bunch of seashells. I could be wrong, I have been a couple of times before.
 
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