First Finds! Arrowhead Identification

[GrouseMan]

Hey all! New to the forum and new to arrowhead hunting. Looking for some advice on recent finds. I put these up on different forums because I was afraid they were geofacts, but it seems pretty unanimous that what I have are artifacts. If that's true, can anyone ID these two finds for me? Both were found in the mountains of South Carolina. The smaller one looks like a broken tip with a clean break at the bottom.

 

[Arkansaw]

Welcome to t-net and you definitely found a couple points! Not sure on the ID but someone here will know

 

[GrouseMan]

Thanks for the confirmation Arkansaw! I'm excited to get more info on these. Another question I forgot to ask was how distinguish between artifacts and geofacts when it comes to the quartz projectile points. What are the tell tale signs of the point I posted that show it is in fact a point?

 

[Fred250]

That’s the million dollar question right there.

 

[Arkansaw]

Thanks for the confirmation Arkansaw! I'm excited to get more info on these. Another question I forgot to ask was how distinguish between artifacts and geofacts when it comes to the quartz projectile points. What are the tell tale signs of the point I posted that show it is in fact a point?

Seems like you already know how to differentiate between the two. Just keep doing that and you’ll know when you have something legit. As far as identification, you’ll need the base to determine types.

 

[Tdog]

Another question I forgot to ask was how distinguish between artifacts and geofacts when it comes to the quartz projectile points. What are the tell tale signs of the point I posted that show it is in fact a point?

Fred is right and I think the simple answer is that one has to be able to identify knapping evidence. It is much easier to do so on some materials like flint but not so easy with quartz. You have to handle many specimens and study them to train your eyes. These dirt-poor Indians here had nothing else to knap but quartz so that's what they survived with over millennia and that is what we find here. At some point, you'll be able to tell what mother nature created as opposed to what man has altered (most of the time). That's the way I learned.

 

[djackson7348]

Welcome to the forum from North Carolina.

 

[arrow86]

Welcome , your on the rite track with finding them, I think the first one may have been a Morrow Mountain and the other one a guess due to the base not being intact but the way that one side tapers in and curves I think it’s a Guilford round base both those types are very commonly found in that area and made from quartz.
Here’s a good site you can use as a reference and view other points to see what defines each. Best thing to do is get your hands on as many as possible whether you know somebody who has a collection or even visit local museum. Seeing them in person will teach you things a picture never can.

http://www.projectilepoints.net/Search/SouthCarolina_Lanceolates.html

 

[Tony in SC]

Welcome to Tnet. I'll go with Morrow Mountain on the white one? I' near Greenville,and 90% of what I find is white.

 

[Barrydang]

Nice points. When I walk fields I look for anything that looks different triangle shapes I look for white color Rocks that have the outer layer off Of it Some are broken by a plow some are actually worked peices you will quickly tell the difference I pick up more wrongs than right. keep at it and you will build a nice collection of complete points or bases or broken points they all are nice.

 

[sandchip]

The red one is some pretty material. I agree with everyone else that it would be dang near impossible to type either of them accurately.

 

[GrouseMan]

Thanks for all the advice all, very interesting stuff. I'm looking forward to getting more information on these points and finding more!