Did I find an Indian arrowhead?

[Grub]

So, my wife and I decided to take a whirlwind trip to the Grand Canyon last weekend. One of my goals for our trip was to find an arrowhead, which I didn't think was very likely, but still it would be cool to find an arrowhead. When I was a kid I had found some, but nothing since then.

Anyway, outside of the Grand Canyon, I stop by the side of the road near a very deserted area and thought I would give finding an arrowhead one go. I looked for about five minutes, didn't see much, and then something caught my eye. At first I thought it was just a rock shaped like an arrowhead, but the more I looked at it, the more I was convinced that I actually found an arrowhead, albeit a broken arrowhead.

Below are two pictures of the possible arrowhead. This thing comes into a pretty sharp point and even at the bottom you can see the area where the Indian would have been able to tie the arrowhead to the arrow. This thing is definitely broken, so if it is indeed an arrowhead, I don't know if it was broken before it was used or if it broke after being shot from the hands on an Indian many years ago.

What do you think?



This is with the missing part colored in a bit.

[Sheynat]

I don't know, man. It seems far too asymmetrical. You wouldn't want asymmetry in an arrowhead, I don't think. Maybe like someone's failed attempt at an arrowhead. That being said, I'm no fletcher-maybe I'm totally wrong.

[Enigmatic]

Well there's only so much symmetry you can get banging two stones together. A lot of the time it wasn't even that precise, they'd just break a piece off and it was reasonably good it was used. That being said I don't know if it is or isn't. Arrowheads aren't my area. Ask me if you found a miniball and I might be able to tell you, otherwise you're out of luck.

[Grub]

I have added another picture of what I think this may look like if it had the missing part attached.

[Chronopolice]

That's the weirdest looking piece of rock I've ever seen.

I looked up Google for Indian arrowhead pics. That piece comes pretty close though.

[Harmonious Treefolk]

What is the scale on that thing? I can't tell from the pictures. But judging from the shape I'd say you might have a real find on your hands.

I'd do some research at the library, if I were you.

[Estayland]

Id say you scored.

[Petalumadom]

I'd have to say from my extreme expertness on arrow heads (not really but...)

that looks like a pretty likely piece...

probably not made by an expert... but even back then they must have had people who weren't the best at things

that looks too particular to be natural... but of course it's not impossible...

[Greek People Nation (GPN)]

Looks like one to me!

[Anime Daisuki]

I very much doubt it.

Old, weathered rock are usually darker in color, and the rock is pale-white. It does not seem to be igneous rock (such as granite, also typically dark), but some kind of carbonate-mineral rock (which is typically lighter). The latter is not suitable for arrow-making since they are softer and more brittle.

Lastly, there is no clear indication from the pictures that show a point where a wooden shaft meets the rock. I don't see a groove of any kind.

That said, arrowheads aren't my specialty either. Ask me about anime or architecture anytime.

[MinnaCaroline]

I don't know either, I have an arrowhead and like AD said its black. But comparing mine to your picture they do have similar qualities. My arrowhead came out of Utah!

[Grub]

The picture below shows similar looking stone for arrowheads.

[Chronopolice]

Mar 5, 2009 20:27:21 GMT -5 Anime Daisuki said:

I very much doubt it.

Old, weathered rock are usually darker in color, and the rock is pale-white. It does not seem to be igneous rock (such as granite, also typically dark), but some kind of carbonate-mineral rock (which is typically lighter). The latter is not suitable for arrow-making since they are softer and more brittle.

Lastly, there is no clear indication from the pictures that show a point where a wooden shaft meets the rock. I don't see a groove of any kind.

That said, arrowheads aren't my specialty either. Ask me about anime or architecture anytime.

Is it possible that it might be a ceremonial arrowhead?

P.S.
Bah! Architects always give us civil engineers headaches every time. ;D At least I deal more with highways, roadways and traffic jams. Speaking of jam... *goes to the kitchen*

[New Dracora]

Well... it certainly looks like an arrowhead...

Dunno. The colour suggests the rock type is felsic (high silica content, poor iron/magnesium/etc content), at first I thought it might be feldspar but the conchoidal fractures suggest otherwise (plag/olioglase have very specific planes of fracture) most likely chert, which would make a fair enough arrowhead.

Of course, hard to say without a closer look and I too, am no expert - could also be a lump of concrete.

[Anime Daisuki]

Mar 7, 2009 11:35:39 GMT -5 Chronopolice said:

Is it possible that it might be a ceremonial arrowhead?

P.S.
Bah! Architects always give us civil engineers headaches every time. ;D At least I deal more with highways, roadways and traffic jams. Speaking of jam... *goes to the kitchen*

Meh, its the other way around. It's us who get several RFIs from engineers everyday. You don't see us requesting information from engineers do you? Granted, that's speaking about engineers from the developer side, not the consultant side.

[Chronopolice]

So Grub, did you ask an expert to take a look at it?


P.S.
Let's try looking for Atlantis. ;D