Three of my 1600's Copper Arrowhead Detector Finds Featured in a New Book

[Eastender]

A few months ago, archaeologists associated with the Southold Indian Museum on Eastern Long Island, NY published a book entitled: "Ancient Native Artifacts of Eastern Long Island: Projectile Points" by Ephraim Horowitz and Lucinda Hemmick, with an Introduction by Chief Harry Wallace (North Fork Press 2024). It's available on Amazon for $40.

The book is the first of its kind detailing typology, date ranges, materials, and tool-making methods for eastern Suffolk County including both the north and south forks of Long Island. It has many colorful images and is very readable, useful to both the novice and academic. As mechanized farming brought the tractor plow with more aggressive tilling, more artifacts were uncovered in the early 1900s. Farmers began to amass collections then assemble them in large numbers attached to boards as folk art. The museum has several of these on display and photographs are in the book. The area has also had many novice collectors from both farms and exposed middens along the shores.

My understanding is only five contact period copper arrowheads are known to have been found on Eastern Long Island, and I have found four of them in the past two years (Minelab Equinox 900 & Manticore). They are not the basic triangle trade points one typically sees. They have a higher degree of craftsmanship with curved edges. I donated three of them to the Southold Indian Museum in Southold, NY. Sometimes while out detecting I do find stone arrowheads, tools, ceramics, and lithic debris. I have even found former wampum producing sites with the cut off purple sections of the quahog shell. The copper arrowheads were isolated forest finds, most likely shot and lost.

In my younger years, I was a graduate-level archaeologist and petroglyphologist, working in the high Mojave Desert south of Death Valley, CA. As a teen I picked the cornfields of rural upstate NY south of Rochester\PA border where I grew up. I have completed remedial digs in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island. Still, I felt honored to have my copper points featured on an entire page with a description as "an archaeologist and expert metal detectorist." Sadly though, the copper arrowheads mark the end of native bow and arrow technology in this area. By the early 1700's, it is believed up to 3/4s of Native population had been wiped out by smallpox.

In addition to reporting my migratory bird bands to Federal agencies, it is another way I have made positive contributions as a metal detectorist, and contributed to our understanding of history.

Pictured is the cover and the copper points as I found them and posted here. The book shows them together with scale ruler.

 

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[Tesorodeoro]

Congratulations. Looks like a good read.

 

[Eastender]

The beginning of the story, two examples of Clovis points found in my area. Only a few have been found on all of Long Island. Migration was determined by Ice Age passages.

 

[pepperj]

Great contribution to saving and having the history recorded in print.
Congratulations on that.
The points are top shelf recoveries. 👌

 

[DizzyDigger]

Incredible finds...

Gotta ask...what was the purpose of the hole in the center of each one?

 

[Eastender]

Incredible finds...

Gotta ask...what was the purpose of the hole in the center of each one?

The hole was used for hafting to the shaft. Also, quantities could be strung together for their journey from European ports.

 

[ncsuwolf]

Nice finds and good information. Hate to say, but had I dug those they would have gone into the scrap pile, as I had no idea copper arrowheads were a thing. Guessing majority of folks are in that same boat.

 

[Eastender]

Nice finds and good information. Hate to say, but had I dug those they would have gone into the scrap pile, as I had no idea copper arrowheads were a thing. Guessing majority of folks are in that same boat.

I've learned many things from other detectorists posting on this site.

 

[fishstick]

Someone found a Folsom in NY Never heard of them being found that far east.

Congratz on getting into the book, great points!!!

 

[Eastender]

After scouring the web for many hours, I came across what I believe is a match to one of my points. The info came from the blog of a detectorist in RI several years ago. Most copper trade points that came from Europe and are found in Iroquois sites are basic triangles with a hole. The large one I found has a distinctive shape, size, and edge beveling. See attached photo.

It all makes perfect sense to find a Narragansett point in eastern Long Island. They were the powerhouse tribe in the region and had early contact with European traders such as Roger Williams. The trip from New England to Long Island could be made in as few as three hours by long canoe through a series of smaller island hops. The Narragansett had a relationship with local Montauketts and other Long Island Algonquian peoples. These tribes produced wampum that was highly sought after. While local stone points are typically quartz, quartzite, and various colors of chert, we do see stone materials not native to this region.

In reading a book about the Roger Williams and the Narragansett, I came across specific info related to battles fought between local tribes and the Narragansett. As Europeans made inroads into the region, it forced tribes to pick sides and sparked conflicts. In the book "God, War, and Providence" by James A. Warren, he cites specific skirmishes fought in the area where I found this point. In fact, Narragansett raids during the colonial period prompted the British to side with local tribes to beat up and and pressure them. One instance of a local Chief having his daughter abducted by the Narragansett led to local settler Gardiner fighting to reclaim her. This led to his being given Gardiner's Island which today is still in the family and one of the largest privately-owned islands in the US.

 

[BennyV]

A few months ago, archaeologists associated with the Southold Indian Museum on Eastern Long Island, NY published a book entitled: "Ancient Native Artifacts of Eastern Long Island: Projectile Points" by Ephraim Horowitz and Lucinda Hemmick, with an Introduction by Chief Harry Wallace (North Fork Press 2024). It's available on Amazon for $40.

The book is the first of its kind detailing typology, date ranges, materials, and tool-making methods for eastern Suffolk County including both the north and south forks of Long Island. It has many colorful images and is very readable, useful to both the novice and academic. As mechanized farming brought the tractor plow with more aggressive tilling, more artifacts were uncovered in the early 1900s. Farmers began to amass collections then assemble them in large numbers attached to boards as folk art. The museum has several of these on display and photographs are in the book. The area has also had many novice collectors from both farms and exposed middens along the shores.

My understanding is only five contact period copper arrowheads are known to have been found on Eastern Long Island, and I have found four of them in the past two years (Minelab Equinox 900 & Manticore). They are not the basic triangle trade points one typically sees. They have a higher degree of craftsmanship with curved edges. I donated three of them to the Southold Indian Museum in Southold, NY. Sometimes while out detecting I do find stone arrowheads, tools, ceramics, and lithic debris. I have even found former wampum producing sites with the cut off purple sections of the quahog shell. The copper arrowheads were isolated forest finds, most likely shot and lost.

In my younger years, I was a graduate-level archaeologist and petroglyphologist, working in the high Mojave Desert south of Death Valley, CA. As a teen I picked the cornfields of rural upstate NY south of Rochester\PA border where I grew up. I have completed remedial digs in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island. Still, I felt honored to have my copper points featured on an entire page with a description as "an archaeologist and expert metal detectorist." Sadly though, the copper arrowheads mark the end of native bow and arrow technology in this area. By the early 1700's, it is believed up to 3/4s of Native population had been wiped out by smallpox.

In addition to reporting my migratory bird bands to Federal agencies, it is another way I have made positive contributions as a metal detectorist, and contributed to our understanding of history.

Pictured is the cover and the copper points as I found them and posted here. The book shows them together with scale ruler.

Very cool! I wonder if they are some metal points waiting to to be found near me.

 

[Tpmetal]

Very cool to be part of that! Also it sounds like you grew up near me, as that's how I describe my location to people unfamiliar with the area.

 

[Eastender]

Very cool to be part of that! Also it sounds like you grew up near me, as that's how I describe my location to people unfamiliar with the area.

I grew up in Allegany County not far from Olean. My father side goes back to 1800 in the Smethport area of McKean County, PA. They were Revolutionary War soldiers who received land grants as part of their pensions.

 

[pepperj]

After scouring the web for many hours, I came across what I believe is a match to one of my points. The info came from the blog of a detectorist in RI several years ago. Most copper trade points that came from Europe and are found in Iroquois sites are basic triangles with a hole. The large one I found has a distinctive shape, size, and edge beveling. See attached photo.

I'm a little confused about the information regarding the kettle points.
In the above you state they came from Europe.
In the photo the Indians made them from kettles.

My understanding was the latter of the 2.
I was under the impression that in the fur trade era, kettles were cut up for kettle points, and other adornments.

I guess I should have just asked if the kettle points were also manufactured in Europe and then traded to the Indians?
Was this the case in your area of recoveries and research?

 

[Eastender]

I'm a little confused about the information regarding the kettle points.
In the above you state they came from Europe.
In the photo the Indians made them from kettles.

My understanding was the latter of the 2.
I was under the impression that in the fur trade era, kettles were cut up for kettle points, and other adornments.

I guess I should have just asked if the kettle points were also manufactured in Europe and then traded to the Indians?
Was this the case in your area of recoveries and research?

This is where I differ with the archaeologists who wrote this book. I believe my copper points were made from scrap metal. They call them European trade points. Since not many have been found here we don't know for certain. You can imagine a European noticing the native americans making them and thinking of manufacturing them as a trade object. But the contact period was short. As soon as black powder weapons proliferated there was little interest in bow technology regardless of the point type.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Way Freaking Cool - Congratulations!

 

[pepperj]

This is where I differ with the archaeologists who wrote this book. I believe my copper points were made from scrap metal. They call them European trade points. Since not many have been found here we don't know for certain. You can imagine a European noticing the native americans making them and thinking of manufacturing them as a trade object. But the contact period was short. As soon as black powder weapons proliferated there was little interest in bow technology regardless of the point type.

I can't really see the importation of points to trade.
There was other items they certainly wanted.
I totally agree that the archaeologists might have this one wrong.
There was manifests of what was traded in the fur trade era.
I have to fall down a rabbit hole and do some research.

 

[RGINN]

Wow those are great, and congrats on having them published for the world to see. The one thing that caught my caught my interest, what exactly did you do as a petroglyphologist?

 

[Tpmetal]

I grew up in Allegany County not far from Olean. My father side goes back to 1800 in the Smethport area of McKean County, PA. They were Revolutionary War soldiers who received land grants as part of their pensions.

I'm in allegany county on the other side of it that meets up with Steuben county alfred/almond/wellsville. So super familiar with these areas.

 

[Eastender]

Wow those are great, and congrats on having them published for the world to see. The one thing that caught my caught my interest, what exactly did you do as a petroglyphologist?

During my senior year in High School (1977-8), I entered a competitive essay contest (5 separate essays) and won a National Earthwatch Scholarship. I was sent a list of ten scientific research field expeditions and was told to pick one for an all expense paid internship. I chose the Petroglyph Project of Black Canyon, in the Black Mountains of the Mojave Desert near Barstow, CA. Within weeks after graduating HS in June, I was in a desert field camp, part of a research team sponsored by Earthwatch, San Bernadino County Museum, Whittier College, and Rio Hondo College. We began work at 7 AM and continued until noon or 100 degrees, whichever came first, then back out for a few more hours before sunset. We slept and lived in the summer desert.

Black Canyon encompasses a concentration of several thousand prehistoric petroglyphs within a 10 mile canyon. The goal of this multi-year research was to locate, record, collect related data, otherwise to preserve these rock carvings. Plus, once cataloged, the glyphs could then be analyzed for other research endeavors. Aside from not knowing their true numbers or meanings, people were stealing them, using them for gun practice, or destroying them with graffiti. Attached find a copy of the report for my summer of participation. Each glyph was photographed (slide film) with scale ruler, had an attached data sheet of info (such as whether the glyp was pecked, rubbed, or a combination of styles). The leader of the expedition, who was also an art professor, projected each glyph on a screen and created scale renditions as seen in the sample page.

I am a dual major in Cultural & Natural Resources Management. In 1978-9 participated in field research aimed at preserving Hawaii's Native Birds in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Big Island) with the US Dept. of Interior and Univ. of Hawaii. I then lived in Kenya, East Africa participating in UNESCO\UNEP research aimed at stopping desertification or the spreading of Sahel into equatorial Africa. I worked with five different nomadic and transhumanent tribes studying livestock productivity while testing a newly developed drug developed by Beyer to fight trypanosomiasis. Finally I came full circle and returned to the Black Canyon Project for the summer of 1980 as Camp Director to continue documenting glyphs.

After the petroglph expedition, I was hired as a contract field archaeologist during 1981-2. The US Government had just reopened a huge desert military base north of Barstow called Ft. Irwin. It had been mothballed after the Korean conflict then set up to train US forces to fight Soviet Military doctrine (basically armoured infantry tactics) in the aftermath of the 1980 Afhganistan War. The base had a defected Soviet Commander and Soviet military hardware. It was essentially a big game of laser tag to train our rapid deployment forces. Plenty of live fire so we always had to get range clearence and we had to be debriefed by Ordaniance Officers as plenty of live amunition was lying on the desert floor in full sun! As archaeologists we were not tied down excavating sites. Rather, we walked transects all day to be certain nothing of significance was destroyed. We found several sites meriting National Historic Preservation status. As many people know, in the SW deserts you can find objects dating thousands of years lying on the surface. The pinnacle was when I was selected as part of a crack team to do surveys at the Goldstone Tracking Facilty run by JPL and NASA. Fields of parabolic tracking satellite dishes. I watched one of the space shuttles land at Ft. Edwards.

Eventually I went on to years of research in a return to East Africa, India top to bottom, Nepal, and a senior thesis in Israel with Ford Foundation Research before moving on to grad school. So many stories here but you have to wait until I write my book.