Arrowhead in vertebrae????

nyiangelo · Mar 2, 2011

I saw this and figured you guys could give him a little information and opinions. Here's his story. Cool if it's real........

I was going through some of my crap today and I came across something that I forgot I had. I got this from my father when I was a kid. He tells me he found it on some property he had at the Lake of the Ozarks.

It looks like a large vertebrate with an arrow head sticking in it. There is an arrow head show near me this month. I plan on taking it to some of the people there and seeing what it's worth.

Does anyone have any experience with this kind of thing? I don't want to get scammed or low balled.

jeff a · Mar 2, 2011

never have seen a real one,the point in yours might be a real point that was put into a real bone but doubt that a native did it thousands of years ago, it looks like the point is a dalton variant which is way older than the bone looks

Boomdeyada · Mar 2, 2011

Not to say that yours isn't real, however I have seen people at fleamarkets trying to sell such an item like yours. They wanted like 25.00 for it. I am sure if it was the real McCoy then they would have wanted a whole lot more. The bone to me looks to be in to good a shape to be as old as the point.
Just my opinion! :wink:

Braxton · Mar 2, 2011

Hi, my name is Braxton and I am the guy with this thing. My dad found this in 1977 or 78. It still has the dirt on it from where he pulled it out of the ground. If it is a fake someone made it, then buried it out in the woods.

I know NOTHING about arrowheads but this looks kind of big to me compared to others that I have seen. I am thinking it was a spear point.

If you have any questions or want to see different pics please let me know. I would just like to know more about it and see if it's worth anything.

Thanks.

Braxton.

1320 · Mar 2, 2011

If it is a genuine specimen it will answer a question I've had about the strength of a point. I had no idea that they were capable of piercing such a thick bone and remain unbroken! Looks like it might have even pierced the bone on the inside of the vertebra, yowsers. That would get er done!

If it's authentic, would it be considered museum quality? A Banner find or "rediscovery" most certainly.

Twitch · Mar 2, 2011

nyiangelo - Can you provide a closer picture of the point, especially a close up fo the base? These things do happen and points in bones are a well documented, although rare, occurrence. An interesting twist here, and the reason I'd like a close up of the point base, is that your point, as Jeff points out, is a very old varient, Dalton or older, hard to tell from the picture. It seems a bit out of place with the level of preservation of the bone. Do you have an idea of what animal the vertabrae came from? I would think this should be fairly easy to determine. To answer Braxton's questions, if this is real it should have a good amount of value in it. If the point is real and it's been placed in the bone without damaging the point, the point itself could be worth a couple of hundred dollars. Again hard to tell from the picture. Identify the species of the vertabrae and provide a couple of closer pictures of the point itself and this could be an interesting thread.

Thanks

tmodel · Mar 2, 2011

give us name of the show and or names of people setting up at the show if you can and some one might be able tell you to who to see first with best chance being treaded fair..

olroy70 · Mar 2, 2011

jeff a,

I live in a place where Comanche was the last indians around. Who is to say, they didnt find and reuse points they found.

I like the bone. didnt ya say your dad gave it to you?

1320 · Mar 2, 2011

I think another important photo would be of the entry and exit holes that the point made. From what I can see, there's no apparent fracturing and/or splintering of the bone, looks like it just melted into the bone. The tip of the point would have to have some damage as well wouldn't it?

I realize that there's a difference between modern bow hunting and ancient hunting but I've seen slow bows and fast bows that leave carnage when the tip strikes bone. I've never seen an Atlatl or hand thrown dart removed from bone though.....

Is it possible, if this piece is real, that the hunter may have been delivering the final blow with a methodic, slow piercing of the animal and if that's the case, would the vertebrae be the bone of choice? It certainly would have been crippling.....

The Grim Reaper · Mar 2, 2011

I have seen a few real ones and there is one with a Calf Creek Point in it that has been extensively studied and deemed the real deal. That one looks like it has a Dalton or Clovis Point in it and that would be a very rare one indeed if real. I'd like to see closer pictures of where it goes through the bone on top and bottom.

nyiangelo · Mar 2, 2011

Braxton provided some more close up pics. Sure it would be easier to critique in person, oh well. I think your best bet is to have someone local look at it, with a good reputation.

ruffneck · Mar 2, 2011

Looks more like a Graham cave point to me. Which would put it in the right location.

ohioaxeman · Mar 2, 2011

i really dont know how to respond to this post, but the fact that all i see is "what is it worth/value?" puts a flag on it!

nyiangelo · Mar 2, 2011

ohioaxeman said:
i really dont know how to respond to this post, but the fact that all i see is "what is it worth/value?" puts a flag on it!

Well consider the fact of the original post. I posted it on behalf of somebody who isn't into history, artifacts,etc. Like me saying my dad gave me a old painting, is it worth anything? I don't have a clue and never have about old art paintings. So if it worth something let me know, if not that paintings going in the trash.......... Just wanting honest internet opinions is all

Braxton · Mar 2, 2011

Hi, this is Braxton.

I might be watching to much Pawn Stars and what not, I want to know the value of everything now.

To put it in other terms, Do I sit it on my mantel, or let the Bulldog chew on it?

Are the shows filled with this kind of thing , Or is this one of a kind?

I am not even asking if it is real. I know it is.

Treefrog · Mar 2, 2011

no matter what opinions I'd have it looked at by someone who can say for sure....
then you will know.

Tree

tmodel · Mar 3, 2011

BRAXTON!do not pay any mind to the naa sayers on this site. the older hands that are on are being carefull what they say no one can be sure from a photo,even an expert that is a true expert will be carefull what they say.. most of them on here will be like ME! never had a bone with arrow or spear point in it in his or her hand before.. they are rare but are found all over the world.. T.

centfladigger · Mar 3, 2011

must have some very awesome soil conditions to preserve bone in the woods, where the rest of the bones from that animal, looks like glue was put near the point and dirt thrown on it. These things pop up all the time. There have been example found with fractured points found in bone, and even humans in the burials but the preservation was rare.