Metal Arrowhead.

[Cycluran]

I could use some help identifying what kind of metal this point is made out of. I found it in a camp site that may be Rev War. A magnet won't stick to it and the color is dark gray.

 

[pointshunter]

Finding the buttons and things from a few hundred years ago would be in a Level of soil well above many much older artifacts oftentimes some ground disturbance or erosion can uncover things much much older then what's in the surface layers and they can be found amongst them.
Who Knows maybe the soldiers dug a fire pit or buried there you know what when they had to go to the bathroom

Ok now yuck! I'll be worried every time I dig a hole.

 

[GatorBoy]

Haha.. That's life

 

[Charl]

If found in Virginia, it's well removed from Old Copper Culture distribution area. Style's off for that culture as well. Not impossible hafting area for Old Copper Culture, but they are usually tanged(called rat tail points) or socketed. Not impossible, but Old Copper would not be the very first thought based on the style alone. During the Contact Period and well into the 18th century, eastern bands did cut up copper and brass kettles and made projectile points of various forms. Triangles were the most common form, occasionally points were stemmed. If the soldier's contingent included Native allies, it could be from that time, but natives also liked guns, a lot more then their earlier weapons of stone, or metal correlates.
Anyway, if Old Copper, it's a long way from it's culture area. But, not impossible if an Archaic Period Virginia native had copper and made a point in a style familiar to him. And I'm not sure if the depth of weathering on your point indicates it has to be older then Contact Period or not.

Check out these metal points from an 18th century French site in Texas. Despite the depth of corrosion, given the location found and the style, I might vote for 17th or 18th century origin for the point in question. A rare and unusual find in any case.

http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/gilbert/french.html

Also, two pages of Old Copper Culture artifacts. As noted, almost all "points" are socketed or narrow tanged, unlike your point. If a Virginia native traded for copper from Old Copper culture, it might be as old. But, if you are finding all those Rev. War material with it, Old Copper would not be my first choice.

http://copperculture.homestead.com/index.html

http://copperculture.homestead.com/moreartifacts.html

 

[Glenn C]

Yours is clearly copper culture. Hopefully the oxygen trapped in the layer you added to it ,will help break off what ever you put on it. I believe it is OK to save artifacts from the ground. But conserving it properly should be obvious if you wish to remove this stuff. Generations to come will appreciate it.

 

[Cycluran]

Right! That supports my original theory that this belonged to someone camped at that site during the Revolutionary War or War of 1812. The same spot, at the same depth yielded this:

 

[theviking]

Very interesting find. I agree with Charl that it would be a long way from its culture area. I have read that the Powhatans did trade for copper from the west, but the trade route was disrupted by the Monacans, who they where at war with. The Powhatans then started trading copper with early colonist, including John Smith. The copper trade with the early colonist was said to be the only reason why the Powhatans did not attack and destroy Jamestown. I guess that could be English copper. Very cool. Thanks for posting.

 

[Cycluran]

Yours is clearly copper culture. Hopefully the oxygen trapped in the layer you added to it ,will help break off what ever you put on it. I believe it is OK to save artifacts from the ground. But conserving it properly should be obvious if you wish to remove this stuff. Generations to come will appreciate it.

This may be my first copper arrowhead, but I have 30 years of saving metal from the ground. The point is not harmed. A light dusting of clear metal primer only served to stop the tiny flakes of copper from falling off and bring out a uniform dark color. The coating is breathable and my heirs are going to admire and appreciate my collection as much as I enjoyed finding it. Or they'll sell everything off after I'm gone...whatever

 

[pointshunter]

So what is mine then? It's from a place where the Indians lived and were moved during the war of 1812. Also in ohio. It's not copper it looks like it's covered with rust. I posted a pic in this thread it's in a pic with other arrowhead.

 

[pointshunter]

So what is mine then? It's from a place where the Indians lived and were moved during the war of 1812. Also in ohio. It's not copper it looks like it's covered with rust. I posted a pic in this thread it's in the pic with others I tried to upload it again but this dumb phone wont let me

 

[pointshunter]

So what is mine then? It's from a place where the Indians lived and were moved during the war of 1812. Also in ohio. It's not copper it looks like it's covered with rust. I posted a pic in this thread it's in a pic with other arrowhead.

Every time I try to upload a pic it says site crashed

 

[Cycluran]

So what is mine then? It's from a place where the Indians lived and were moved during the war of 1812. Also in ohio. It's not copper it looks like it's covered with rust. I posted a pic in this thread it's in the pic with others I tried to upload it again but this dumb phone wont let me

Native Americans could have repurposed a piece of iron to make that point. On the other hand, if I found that here, my first inclination would be to say that it's part of an early settler's utensil.