Copper Spearhead. Amazing update!

[Bell]

Ok well some of you may have seen the broken bent copper spearhead I found a few days back detecting. Well today I was planning to go hit that spot with a friend but we had a rain delay and went to my house to show him what I found there last year. As he was looking through a box of colonial odds and ends one thing caught my eye as being familiar. I grabbed the piece and the copper point I just found and was amazed. A perfect match! I found them fifty yards and one year apart after being broken maybe a thousand plus years ago. This is a once in a lifetime find and sequence of events for me. Thank goodness for the rain aye?

 

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[ammo_u]

Very cool. I would love to find somthing like that. No doubt the NA trade routes were extensive. I live in Northern Oklahoma (Osage Co) and was stationed at Nellis in Las Vegas NV. I found foreacre and Kay Co chert about a 100 miles North of Vegas exploring and my son has found the same obsidian in birdcreek here that I found all over the place out there.

 

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[bill from lachine]

Bell,

Whatever you do....don't clean it.....I'm fortunate to know a couple of detectorists in Northern Minnesota who are specialists in this type of artifact....they have collections and knowledge in this field that put most of us to shame...

Regards + HH

Bill

Thanks everyone. I'm learning more about it as I go. My wife theorized the guy threw it at a bear which then killed him and then went a few yards away and died itself. As good a theory as any. I think the bend and break came from its last use. For that reason its part of the story for me so I plan to leave it the way it is. The patina and copper should be stable right? And Buckleboy Id love to do that. Ill get with you about pictures. Thanks again.

 

[Bell]

Thanks for the kudos and thanks for the banner vote. I'm starting to realize I may have a hard time topping this find as a lot of people have reached out to me about it. I appreciate the info Bill. All I've done is wash the clay off with warm water. I hope that wasn't a mistake. Id love to hear what your friends could tell me about it. One of the problems I'm encuntering is most of the experts in pre columbian stuff that I've showed it to can't tell me much about it as there apparenly just aren't that many of them especially in this part of the world. Yes I wish very much it could tell its story as I'm sure it would be exotic and amazing enough to make a good movie. I think we take for granted the expansive and unfortunately mysterious societies that people he lands we now call home. A find like tis makes you think about that. Your right ammo u, there is a lot to learn from things like this. I am looking into seeing if documenting it could further any research on the trade routes topic. If anyome knows let me know. Thanks.

 

[bill from lachine]

Bell,

It's a pretty specialized field even by archeological standards....there's a fair amount of info out there on the internet....but you really have to dig to do an id or date some of these items.....if you do a google search and type archaic copper culture you'll get a fair amount of hits.....it's fairly fascinating period if you're so interested.

Here's one for you to get the ball rolling....lol.

Old Copper Culture - Anthropology - Artifacts - Collections - Milwaukee Public Museum

Regards + HH

Bill

 

[Bell]

Thanks Bill! That is fascinating!

 

[jorge del norte]

dang cool find...

this thread has taught me to keep a relic finds bucket. i screwed up once and tossed a great find, thinking it was junk, only later to see one just like it on forum......i could kick myself

 

[CoilyGirl]

Yep,sometimes those whatnots turn out to be something really cool. Nice find.

 

[cti4sw]

Not sure on the distance, but why not a missed shot that hit the ground - breaking & catapulting the main piece some distance away?

Because who wants to think pessimistically like that? lol

 

[bill from lachine]

Bell,

Here's another link you might find useful.....it shows pictures of different points, etc.....

Great Lakes Copper Culture : Gallery Index

Regards + HH

Bill

 

[BosnMate]

That is one of the more awesome finds I've ever heard about, it's just plain mind boggling to me to think about it. I know everyone has their own personal choice, but if I found it I would leave just as found, that's the best part of the story.

 

[Bell]

Thanks everyone. I agree its just something I seriously never expected to find. A copper o metal arrow point was on my wish list and that was unlikely, but I think I topped that. Its always great to find something like this to expand your horzons and learn about it so thanks to everyone who has shared info. Its now documented and logged as part of an effort to document north american trade routes so that is good. Again those folks called it a first for NC. I agree the condition is part of he story. And Crusader if my wife says it killed a bear, then the dang thing killed a bear. Lol I know what's good for me if I want to keep spendng the wekends in the field. Thanks for the coments everyone!

 

[JT1080]

Amazing update indeed! Nice find an an even better story. Thank you for sharing it with us!

 

[Bell]

Thanks!