Glass Arrowhead?y

[GaRebel1861]

If that is made from Crystal Quartz, it's the best one that I've ever seen.

[Jon Stewart]

Sure the NA's knapped glass. Ishi made arrowheads out of power line insulators. I have a piece of 1/4" glass that has a worked edge that I found where a homestead once stood.

[SportsmanAll]

Here is a piece of modern glass that has been percussion knapped into a large blade. Found in a NA area where I have found many obsidian and stone artifacts.

[MAMucker]

There seems to be a lot of napped glass (artifacts?) getting posted.

No one has mentioned this, but It would be surprising to hear that none of the settlers/pioneers were skilled survivalists; and they were all incapable of napping stone or glass.

I will also ask; Is it safe to say, that by the 1920’s All Americans had access to steel tools?

These pieces are interesting, and I would surely bring them home.
But nailing down a positive NA designation is problematic and just speculation.

[xcopperstax]

I think it's old and probably NA. In modern times who would take the time to make that and leave it there? Looks like great workmanship to me. About 25 years ago I went into the herring run gristmill in Brewster Ma. They had on display a few arrowheads that were knapped out of glass that were from the 1800's and found on Cape Cod which has a extensive history of Europeans and Native Americans since before the Pilgrims landed. That's an incredible find.

[Hillbilly Prince]

CLEARLY a fantastic find!

[MAMucker]

I had an opportunity recently to attend a site investigation with State and Professional archaeologists.
One of the professional archaeologists was walking nearby, searching the surface of the ground for artifacts and evidence of NA historical presence. After, stating (his observation) of a general lack of evidence or artifacts, he picked up a piece of known local lithic material.
To my astonishment, he began whacking it’s edge to test the quality (I suppose) leaving flake debit-age on the ground.
I (the only non-professional) present was the only one to express how this is would be problematic for future searches.
No one else seemed to care too much or show any concern.
Eventually, (if anyone hunts the way I do) these will be found and saved and of course, identified as NA artifacts.

[Tdog]

I had an opportunity recently to attend a site investigation with State and Professional archaeologists.
One of the professional archaeologists was walking nearby, searching the surface of the ground for artifacts and evidence of NA historical presence. After, stating (his observation) of a general lack of evidence or artifacts, he picked up a piece of known local lithic material.
To my astonishment, he began whacking it’s edge to test the quality (I suppose) leaving flake debit-age on the ground.
I (the only non-professional) present was the only one to express how this is and would be problematic for future searches.
No one else seemed to care too much or show any concern.
Eventually, (if anyone hunts the way I do) these will be found and saved and of course, identified as NA artifacts.

Wasn't Gramley was it?

[MAMucker]

Years back, my daughter latched onto a ‘boyfriend’ who was quite a manipulative individual.
He knew I didn’t like him, yet he hung around quite a while to try to get his way.
He was inclined to outsmart me and my wife with every move he made.
Knowing my interest in NA artifacts, he showed me an arrowhead he picked up in the forest on a quad-track.
Well, It was not NA.
He was trying to get me to warm up to him (and trying outsmart (play)me at the same time, by mocking my knowledge with a modern made souvenir arrowhead.
When I told him what it was, he just grinned.
He was just a narcissistic punk, and that type of person needs little motivation to try to deceive someone.
Just because YOU would ‘never’ invest time and energy to deceive others, doesn’t mean there is no one who will.

Add to that...
There are people out there who just plain don’t like what we do.

[MAMucker]

Sorry for that rant.
Its just that I believe that a healthy skepticism strengthens science.

[MAMucker]

My son found this at one of our spots in SW Iowa and it is definitely made out of glass. Is this something that NAs would have used to make points? TIA!

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1. The finder said it is “definitely made out of glass”. The added photos clearly show it is made of glass. So, can we stop suggesting it’s made from Crystal Quartz?

2. The finder said his son found it at one of his spots. That’s important info, and it should be clarified. Provenance and context are extremely important too.
Huskerhunter, can you tell us about the site logistics (i. e.; is it remote?, hard or easy access?, is it a secrete or well known to the public.

3. That point could only be as old a the clear glass it was made from. My guess is that would bring it well into the twentieth century (there are experts in glass here that can speak to this, so feel free to take exception)

4. *****Which NAs were present in that locale, at the time that type of glass was available, and did they historically make a projectile point that looked similar?

5. Is there any record of any projectile point type
from that region, from any time period that is similar to the item presented? (This could suggest a replica)

If we can’t answer #4. The best we can do is speculate how it got dropped there.

If that’s the case, Somebody dropping their lucky-charm (souvenir shop special or modern home made) is as good a guess as any.

[Huskerhunter]

1. The finder said it is “definitely made out of glass”. The added photos clearly show it is made of glass. So, can we stop suggesting it’s made from Crystal Quartz?

2. The finder said his son found it at one of his spots. That’s important info, and it should be clarified. Provenance and context are extremely important too.
Huskerhunter, can you tell us about the site logistics (i. e.; is it remote?, hard or easy access?, is it a secrete or well known to the public.

3. That point could only be as old a the clear glass it was made from. My guess is that would bring it well into the twentieth century (there are experts in glass here that can speak to this, so feel free to take exception)

4. *****Which NAs were present in that locale, at the time that type of glass was available, and did they historically make a projectile point that looked similar?

5. Is there any record of any projectile point type
from that region, from any time period that is similar to the item presented? (This could suggest a replica)

If we can’t answer #4. The best we can do is speculate how it got dropped there.

If that’s the case, Somebody dropping their lucky-charm (souvenir shop special or modern home made) is as good a guess as any.

2. It is remote on private property, not easily accessible.

4. As I mentioned before, it was the land that Chief Waubonsie was sent to live after European contact in Mills county Iowa.

5. Yes, I have found may point types similar to this in fields and streams nearby.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waubonsie

[Huskerhunter]

All found in the same general area.

[MAMucker]

Hmmmm. Are those examples of similar points?