Arrowheads can be found almost anywhere in North America and other continents, and are profound connections to the past. While you’ve probably found some by complete accident or coincidence, you can up your chances by searching in particular places or during prime seasons. Just be sure to know your local history and respect the local cultures as you follow our simple steps on how, where, and when to find these little archeological treasures.

Things You Should Know

  • Hunt for arrowheads around bodies of water or on high ground, where Native peoples often made camp.
  • Ask permission before you search tilled fields, where the overturned earth may reveal arrowheads.
  • Scan the forest floor, where arrows may have landed during hunting.
  • Consult your local tribal association, museum, or historical society for information on the history of the area.
1

Search creek beds and other bodies of water.

  1. Arrowheads can often be found in dried-up creeks or around lakes and rivers. This is because the water tends to carry the arrowheads and deposit them along the shore, but also because many Native peoples made camps or stayed near bodies of water, using and discarding arrowheads while in the area.[1] Start downstream, where the current may have deposited arrowheads on the shore or in inlets, and continue your search heading upstream.
    • Also check gravel bars, or the long, thin raised islands of gravel within the stream where sediment builds up. These are likely places to find arrowheads.[2]
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3

Search in the woods.

6

Look for irregular colors and sharp shapes.

  1. Arrowheads often feature jagged edges and a piercing tip. In addition, there’s often a notch at the base like a whale’s tail where the arrow was fastened to a shaft. They were commonly made of flint, rhyolite, argillite, or quartz, and come in many colors and sizes, so it can be difficult to spot them among soil, dirt, and pebbles, but keep an eye out for a shiny, polished surface, irregular colors on the ground, or defined edges.[10]
    • Visit a museum or heritage center to study the appearance of arrowheads and brush up on your history beforehand.[11]

About This Article

Luke Smith, MFA
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Luke Smith, MFA. Luke Smith is a wikiHow Staff Writer. He's worked for literary agents, publishing houses, and with many authors, and his writing has been featured in a number of literary magazines. Now, Luke writes for the content team at wikiHow and hopes to help readers expand both their skillsets and the bounds of their curiosity. Luke earned his MFA from the University of Montana. This article has been viewed 3,951 times.
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Co-authors: 6
Updated: October 25, 2022
Views: 3,951
Categories: Arrows
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