Copper Spear Point Found

Fingerlakes119 · Nov 8, 2018

I have not posted much lately but this find seemed worthy. I was metal detecting and found this copper spear point. It looks to be an actual native american artifact. I found it near one of the finger lakes in upstate NY. Anyone have any info on these?

Thanks Fingerlakes119

captain redbeard · Nov 9, 2018

OntarioArch said:
Captain R.....if WE ever find one, YOU will be the first to know!

If you find one, I just want to touch it before it goes to the museum! :laughing7:

jewelerguy · Nov 9, 2018

3000 to 5000 year old artifact.... heck yeah, that's incredible

Theakiki · Nov 9, 2018

I'm in awe!

coinman123 · Nov 9, 2018

That's insane! Such a rare find, even better than finding a big gold coin! I don't recommend donating it, as it will likely not be put on display, but I do recommend putting it on loan if you really want other people to see it, but still want it to belong to you. Incredible to see something thousands of years old dug with a metal detector in the US! Again, what an amazing find, happy to see it on the top!!

sandchip · Nov 9, 2018

Hell no to the donatin'!

Treasure_Hunter · Nov 9, 2018

That us a great copper blade, I totally agree with SnakemanBill and Charl, I would not donate it to a Museum, I had friend who worked in Univ that boxes and boxes of artifacts that stayed in storage rooms. Keep it as 2nd display in your home and more people will see and appreciate it than donating it to most museums..I

watercolor · Nov 9, 2018

Wow!!
Excellent example of a Barbed-Base Point.
One of the nicest ones I’ve seen in a long while.
Whatever you do, don’t clean it any more than you have. . . Excellent recovery.

ANTIQUARIAN · Nov 10, 2018

An amazing and historical find, congrats on achieving your first BANNER on Tnet too! :occasion14:

I think your thoughts of donating this piece to a museum would be a great idea. :thumbsup:

Dave

redbeardrelics · Nov 10, 2018

Awesome find, congratulations ! I would also suggest that if you would like it to be seen and appreciated by those folks who would appreciate such things, then personally taking it to local prehistoric artifacts shows and showing it off would be the best way to start. At those shows, especially if you visit some further within the center of the copper culture region, you will see other examples possessed by people who specialize in such artifacts, and you can best evaluate how your example stacks up against other examples that have been found. At such shows you will probably receive offers from people wishing to buy it from you, and you can determine what the monetary value of that piece is. If you wish to have it shown in a museum, then a loan rather than a donation will allow you to repossess the piece, if you ever visit the museum and see that it is not on display for people to see as you wish.

P.ALLEN · Nov 10, 2018

Thats Metah!

NEPA History · Nov 10, 2018

As far as donating to the museum, I have a little experience with this. As most have suggested, I probably wouldn't do that. They're right, it probably would never get displayed and nobody except research archaeologists would ever see it. I think you should take some detailed photos of it and contact the New York State Archaeologist. Let them know what you found and send the pictures to them. I would keep it in a display case by itself. If they ask you to donate it ( they probably will), just politely decline and tell them that they are welcome to come to you if they wish to examine it. Just my opinion but I think I would keep it instead of it going to a drawer in a back room of a museum. It's up to you of course, but I would make the archaeological community aware of it but would retain ownership. Also, it's safe to give them a detailed location of the find, they may want to survey the area to find out if there is a significant site there, but it will be kept confidential..they don't want someone digging up the site and destroying it. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, just thought I'd offer my opinion..and again, fantastic find! Good luck on your next hunt!

ToddsPoint · Nov 11, 2018

After I read about a high school student that was employed by the IL State Museum as a janitor getting caught selling samurai swords out the back door of the place, I decided donating anything to a museum was not a good idea. Gary

newnan man · Nov 11, 2018

Fantastic find and congrats on the banner. Keep it. Your heirs can always donate it after your gone. In the mean time you get to show it off & relive your find time after time.

sandchip · Nov 11, 2018

I found out through a friend that was able, through his love for research of history that, locked up in the basement are unbelievable artifacts at the Ocmulgee Mounds in Macon, Ga. When they found out that he also collected, he was no longer welcome in their inner sanctum. On display however, are the same dull displays of second-rate artifacts (compared to what was found) that were there when I visited 25 years ago. Then there's the museum at UGA which houses a 4.5 million piece collection of ain't no telling, because you have to be a certified archeaologist or high-level dignitary to view it. The rest of us must know our places, that being to subsidize its curation with our tax dollars and nothing more.

As someone mentioned, displaying it at artifact shows would be far more appreciated by those that truly love things of this nature.

the_mad_cladder · Nov 11, 2018

So cool.

choo · Nov 11, 2018

Congrats on the banner! That is a one fine artifact you have there! On donating it to a museum I wouldn't most of the American Indian artifacts are across the ocean in England in museums packed up to never be seen or enjoyed! I would get me a nice wooden case for it & displayit by itself!

aka da Prof · Nov 13, 2018

!!! Yes, Sir !!! I'm in Lodi, on Seneca Lake, the only copper I have found is a 'copper snot' about an inch long. it was in the middle of a field that is located next to 300 year old white oak tree. My friend found a pottery shard in the adjacent stream. I have always wondered if there are copper points out here-- now I know !!- dang the first snow just fell---- da Prof

arrow86 · Nov 13, 2018

choo said:
Congrats on the banner! That is a one fine artifact you have there! On donating it to a museum I wouldn't most of the American Indian artifacts are across the ocean in England in museums packed up to never be seen or enjoyed! I would get me a nice wooden case for it & displayit by itself!

Why do they send so many overseas? Seems odd if found in the states they send it off