Indian Namesakes

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

I don't have any experience doing native artifact hunts, so hopefully you all know better. I am looking for good places to find artifacts in my area, which is fairly built up. The best thing I have to go on is places with "Indian" in the name. I was wondering if anybody here knows how often places with Indian namesakes are actual Indian sites. For example, in my home town there are 3 separate locations that have been known as Indian Hill or some equivalent over the years. As far as I know these sites have had their names since at least the early 1900s, if not earlier. Did people 100 years ago actually have knowledge of Indian site locations from previous centuries, or did they just call things "Indian" for no specific reason? One of the three sites was reported to produce arrowheads frequently, but it has largely been paved over at this point, so I have no way to check. Another site is still undeveloped, but the only reason to think it could be an Indian site is the name. Is there anything there I should look for that might indicate some sort of Indian history?

 

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[Treasure_Hunter]

You are in PA, look for streams and creaks that have stone or gravel bottoms, plowed fields adjacent to rivers, streams and creeks are good but be sure you have the owner's permission. Sand bars in rivers are another good location, as is any cleared land for building and home construction.

 

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

You are in PA, look for streams and creaks that have stone or gravel bottoms, plowed fields adjacent to rivers, streams and creeks are good but be sure you have the owner's permission. Sand bars in rivers are another good location, as is any cleared land for building and home construction.

Sorry, I go to college in PA. I live in Northern NJ. However, I will use that knowledge once I go back to school.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Sorry, I go to college in PA. I live in Northern NJ. However, I will use that knowledge once I go back to school.

Same thing applies.

 

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

Same thing applies.

Fair enough. Around me most of the rivers are polluted with industrial junk. However, the place I am looking at is a small hill that overlooks a stream in a lightly forested area. If I were to look on top of the hill, what should I look for?

 

[Tdog]

If I were to look on top of the hill, what should I look for?

For one thing, flakes from flintknapping; aka debitage.

 

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

For one thing, flakes from flintknapping; aka debitage.

Would that still be right on the surface after all these years?

 

[Tdog]

Would that still be right on the surface after all these years?

Yes in a lot of cases although disarticulated. Still, that's what I look for when surface hunting.

Look at this thread...

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/n...92-lunch-hour-walk-new-field.html#post6770947

One more thing... forget about the modern named Indian tribe names. Most of the artifacts you will find will be so old that the name of their respective tribe is lost to history. No written record.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I always tried to walk the waterways first if possible, always found a a lot more whole points and artifacts there, if there is any cleared land off the waterway like farm fields or cleared land I would hunt it too if I could get permission.

 

[uniface]

Get a township map from the county surveyer's office (or use some internet resource) that shows creeks. Higher ground (even one foot higher) near where a smaller creek empties into a larger one, if it's ploughed, is where you want to look. Also, on the sites you find, along the creek edges there. Sometimes, on large sites, different peoples lived on different spots. FWIW.

 

[smokeythecat]

Plowed fields on the high ground next to rivers or large creeks are the best. I have a medium creek on my property line, no artifacts. The thing is, 2 miles away is a larger creek, and a few miles or more, the river. Although people do find arrowheads, etc., on the smaller creeks, if there is a river, that would be the more likely "draw" for the native Americans.

 

[Trezurehunter]

I usually just pick them up in farm fields while metal detecting. I have found a few on hillsides in parks though.

 

[EnvoyToTheMolePeople]

One more thing... forget about the modern named Indian tribe names. Most of the artifacts you will find will be so old that the name of their respective tribe is lost to history. No written record.

I kind of thought this might be the case. It does make me wonder why people named stuff "Indian whatever" despite having no idea if it had anything to do with Indians.

 

[CreakyDigger]

As stated before, plowed fields near streams/rivers. Go after a good rain, with permission from the landowner...or the same after harvest.

 

[MAMucker]

Regarding names. An added tip worth considering. If a street is named Arrowhead Lane, near those streams/rivers, the surrounding area should be considered to be worth a look.
To be successful, you?ll be willing to walk many many miles .