Glass Arrowhead?

[Huskerhunter]

My son found this at one of our spots in SW Iowa and it is definitely made out of glass. Is this something that NAs would have used to make points? TIA!

>>————>🤘

 

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[Hillbilly Prince]

CLEARLY a fantastic find!

 

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[MAMucker]

I had an opportunity recently to attend a site investigation with State and Professional archaeologists.
One of the professional archaeologists was walking nearby, searching the surface of the ground for artifacts and evidence of NA historical presence. After, stating (his observation) of a general lack of evidence or artifacts, he picked up a piece of known local lithic material.
To my astonishment, he began whacking it’s edge to test the quality (I suppose) leaving flake debit-age on the ground.
I (the only non-professional) present was the only one to express how this is would be problematic for future searches.
No one else seemed to care too much or show any concern.
Eventually, (if anyone hunts the way I do) these will be found and saved and of course, identified as NA artifacts.

 

[Tdog]

I had an opportunity recently to attend a site investigation with State and Professional archaeologists.
One of the professional archaeologists was walking nearby, searching the surface of the ground for artifacts and evidence of NA historical presence. After, stating (his observation) of a general lack of evidence or artifacts, he picked up a piece of known local lithic material.
To my astonishment, he began whacking it’s edge to test the quality (I suppose) leaving flake debit-age on the ground.
I (the only non-professional) present was the only one to express how this is and would be problematic for future searches.
No one else seemed to care too much or show any concern.
Eventually, (if anyone hunts the way I do) these will be found and saved and of course, identified as NA artifacts.

Wasn't Gramley was it?

 

[MAMucker]

Years back, my daughter latched onto a ‘boyfriend’ who was quite a manipulative individual.
He knew I didn’t like him, yet he hung around quite a while to try to get his way.
He was inclined to outsmart me and my wife with every move he made.
Knowing my interest in NA artifacts, he showed me an arrowhead he picked up in the forest on a quad-track.
Well, It was not NA.
He was trying to get me to warm up to him (and trying outsmart (play)me at the same time, by mocking my knowledge with a modern made souvenir arrowhead.
When I told him what it was, he just grinned.
He was just a narcissistic punk, and that type of person needs little motivation to try to deceive someone.
Just because YOU would ‘never’ invest time and energy to deceive others, doesn’t mean there is no one who will.

Add to that...
There are people out there who just plain don’t like what we do.

 

[MAMucker]

Sorry for that rant.
Its just that I believe that a healthy skepticism strengthens science.

 

[MAMucker]

My son found this at one of our spots in SW Iowa and it is definitely made out of glass. Is this something that NAs would have used to make points? TIA!

>>————>🤘

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1. The finder said it is “definitely made out of glass”. The added photos clearly show it is made of glass. So, can we stop suggesting it’s made from Crystal Quartz?

2. The finder said his son found it at one of his spots. That’s important info, and it should be clarified. Provenance and context are extremely important too.
Huskerhunter, can you tell us about the site logistics (i. e.; is it remote?, hard or easy access?, is it a secrete or well known to the public.

3. That point could only be as old a the clear glass it was made from. My guess is that would bring it well into the twentieth century (there are experts in glass here that can speak to this, so feel free to take exception)

4. *****Which NAs were present in that locale, at the time that type of glass was available, and did they historically make a projectile point that looked similar?

5. Is there any record of any projectile point type
from that region, from any time period that is similar to the item presented? (This could suggest a replica)

If we can’t answer #4. The best we can do is speculate how it got dropped there.

If that’s the case, Somebody dropping their lucky-charm (souvenir shop special or modern home made) is as good a guess as any.

 

[Huskerhunter]

1. The finder said it is “definitely made out of glass”. The added photos clearly show it is made of glass. So, can we stop suggesting it’s made from Crystal Quartz?

2. The finder said his son found it at one of his spots. That’s important info, and it should be clarified. Provenance and context are extremely important too.
Huskerhunter, can you tell us about the site logistics (i. e.; is it remote?, hard or easy access?, is it a secrete or well known to the public.

3. That point could only be as old a the clear glass it was made from. My guess is that would bring it well into the twentieth century (there are experts in glass here that can speak to this, so feel free to take exception)

4. *****Which NAs were present in that locale, at the time that type of glass was available, and did they historically make a projectile point that looked similar?

5. Is there any record of any projectile point type
from that region, from any time period that is similar to the item presented? (This could suggest a replica)

If we can’t answer #4. The best we can do is speculate how it got dropped there.

If that’s the case, Somebody dropping their lucky-charm (souvenir shop special or modern home made) is as good a guess as any.

2. It is remote on private property, not easily accessible.

4. As I mentioned before, it was the land that Chief Waubonsie was sent to live after European contact in Mills county Iowa.

5. Yes, I have found may point types similar to this in fields and streams nearby.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waubonsie

 

[Huskerhunter]

All found in the same general area.

 

[MAMucker]

Hmmmm. Are those examples of similar points?

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

JMPO... I think it is crystal quartz not glass.

 

[southfork]

Maybe Dennis will chime in. He knows his Crystal Quartz artifacts imo. Looks like glass in the photos but I’m no expert on artifacts made from Crystal Quartz. Pretty cool though!

Hard to tell from photos but it looks like Quartz Crystal to me.

 

[Fordtrucksrule]

Back in the day i did lots of primitive skills and sometimes we would use glass to practice knapping arrow heads, the bottom of coke bottles were popular to use.

 

[Lone Star]

My son found this at one of our spots in SW Iowa and it is definitely made out of glass. Is this something that NAs would have used to make points? TIA!

>>————>🤘

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The NA's did take glass from raids and make arrowheads, just like the repurposed steel and niron. However, That form and size predates arrowheads by a few thousand years. If not a prank I'm thinking quartz too. It is a very nice find non the less.