Looking for any info on this point I found (UPDATE - the kid scores!)

[Steve in PA]

Saturday, June 18, I took a female friend out so she could try and find an arrowhead (she has never found one). I normally don't spend much time looking for them, but do run across them from time to time while metal detecting in plowed fields. I took her to a field that I know has produced arrowheads, but I had never walked it personally, so I didn't know where the concentrations were. After about a half an hour of looking, I came across this bad boy. Emily was on the other side of the field, but I wanted to her to see one "insitu", so I marked the spot with my shirt and went across the field to get her. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw it sitting there almost completely exposed from the rains. Around here (Westmoreland County, PA) the fields have been cultivated for a long time, and most of the larger points have been broken by farming operations. This is the largest one I have ever found. It is 3 1/8" long and 1 3/4" wide with no basal grinding that I can see. Can anyone ID it by type name and approximate age?

The first two pictures were taken in the field with my cell phone, the last two show both sides of the point with a symbolic "indian" head penny for size reference. It is almost perfect except for a small chip near one of the notches.

 

[Th3rty7]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

Really nice find there. It looks like a couple different types imo, it has Kirk / Lost Lake qualities. Early Archaic corner notched would be the safe answer. It also looks like a Meadowwood, but since they're side notched I'm leaning towards Kirk or Lost lake.

 

[Steve in PA]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

Really nice find there. It looks like a couple different types imo, it has Kirk / Lost Lake qualities. Early Archaic corner notched would be the safe answer. It also looks like a Meadowwood, but since they're side notched I'm leaning towards Kirk or Lost lake.

Thanks for the response. A local achaeologist said Kirk as well, but he said it should have some basal grinding, which I don't see any. Also, is it possible that the color can change? When I first found it, it was a slate grey as you can see by the pictures. Now it seems to be turning almost brownish. All did was wash it with soap and toothbrush.

 

[rob.s]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

Awesome find!!

 

[Jon Stewart]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

I think its a bit too large to be an arrowhead. Its probably a knife or an atlatl point. It is a great find.

 

[musky44]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

nice find steve.

 

[artorius]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

I would say it is an Early Archaic piece - at least 7000 years old. It could well be a Kirk - not all Kirks have basal grinding, from the literature I have read.

artorius

 

[Flint-seeker]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

Tremendous find! I love it! I agree with it being a kirk, but I am no expert.

 

[Hutch in PA]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

Posted this last week when I found it, but since we're in neighboring counties here in PA, I figured I'd post it for reference. The consensus was this is a kirk...but had been sharpened down. No basal grinding on it either.

 

[Steve in PA]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

Posted this last week when I found it, but since we're in neighboring counties here in PA, I figured I'd post it for reference. The consensus was this is a kirk...but had been sharpened down. No basal grinding on it either.

That one looks like nice material, is it Jasper? When I do look for points, it's either in Wesmoreland or Washington counties. I live in Allegheny, but I'm from Ligonier, where I found this one.

 

[Steve in PA]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

I would say it is an Early Archaic piece - at least 7000 years old. It could well be a Kirk - not all Kirks have basal grinding, from the literature I have read.

artorius

Thanks for your thoughts on this piece Artorious!

 

[Get-the-point]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

It's a Kirk point!!!........Nice find..............the sheen you saw when you washed it is always a deeper color of the stone. When it fully dries though it will show the patina on the surface. If that point had a fresh chip you would see the true color of the stone or the same color it showed when it was wet..............................GTP

 

[RiverRat3]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

Nice find

 

[pointdlr]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

Steve,

I have a slightly different feeling on your fantastic find. I feel very good calling it a Meadowood as Thirty stated in his post. I have seen Meadowood's that are not completely side notched, and everything else about the form says "Meadowood". If you need pictures or info on the type, let me know.
Regards,
Jon Dickinson.

 

[Wampum]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

Very nice! Atlatyl point my thought exactly. It is quite large to be an arrowhead I think. But then again I am used to the little 1" Levanna points.

 

[scotto]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

Also, is it possible that the color can change? When I first found it, it was a slate grey as you can see by the pictures. Now it seems to be turning almost brownish. All did was wash it with soap and toothbrush.

I've had quite a few points 'change' color after a day or two. Great find there.

 

[Steve in PA]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

Steve,

I have a slightly different feeling on your fantastic find. I feel very good calling it a Meadowood as Thirty stated in his post. I have seen Meadowood's that are not completely side notched, and everything else about the form says "Meadowood". If you need pictures or info on the type, let me know.
Regards,
Jon Dickinson.

Thanks Jon, I will look into the Meadowood type.

 

[Twitch]

Re: Looking for any info on this point I found

I'd say that's a meadowwood as well. Nice find.

 

[Steve in PA]

As I mentioned in my original post, I took a female friend out in a field so she could try and find an "arrowhead". But she also was hoping that her 10 year old son Miles might find one someday. I told her that if she takes him in this field, and he is patient and looks hard, he WILL find one. Late this afternoon I get the phone call from her phone, and it's Miles. He found his first point and he was so excited. Here is a pic of a young mans first indian artifact. Hopefully, he has the passion now

 

[Felinepeachy]

Nice!!