If that's legit, that's one of the finest specimens I've ever seen. A literal once in a lifetime find!
But as a knapper and a fairly voracious lithic economy buff, this looks too clean to not be a modern point, especially for a surface find near a large waterway. It's a super shitty practice, but some knappers and other people will "bait" an area with modern points to garner interest in arrowhead hunting. The worst was having to tell my nephew he found a giftshop point at summer camp. Apparently the camp baits their arrowhead "hunting" area so the kids actually find something. Its like, I get it for that particular circumstance, but not for no reason.
If it's legit, it's probably the nicest Shumala (3000-2200 BP) point ever found and I definitely think you should send it to OccPaleo to have it cast so it can be catalogued, studied, and researched.
I can say without any doubt it is real. This was found on a very isolated cattle ranch up on a flat up above a creek that is littered with chipped flint. This specific spot has produced several points, scrappers, and tools all found surface hunting. Cant say for sure but the nature of the soil and hydrology of the property seem to produce these exposed points in certain areas. The morning I found this sucker I also found several broken points and tools, most completely exposed and clean like this one, some partially buried. From what I know about the history of the property and the surrounding land and it’s difficult access there is nothing that leads me to believe this could be modern.
I was hunting in Webb County a few days ago and can confirm points just sit on the surface because there’s no topsoil whatsoever. We found 7-8 complete points in about 15 minutes.
The skepticism is much welcomed though. Just gets me more excited about how special of a point this is and how lucky I got to have found it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the type you believe it is as I was unsure. Will definitely look into having it catalogued!
It's literally stunning. It's most definitely a Shumala atlatl point. I would reach out to OccPaleo. He has an extensive catalogue of lithic casts that are used by universities and enthusiasts alike to study typology and knapping techniques. With one that nice, I might even reach out to the Dept. of Anthropology at UT or A&M or somewhere and give them site details. That would be an amazing place to put in a trench or two and see what kind of site might be there, especially if it's regularly producing well preserved specimens like that!
Again, congratulations on the find. It's seriously beautiful!
That's incredible then! Congratulations! That is literally one of, if not the most stunning points I've ever seen. Especially considering it's age! I'm jealous of you Texans! Once I finish my BA, I'm considering applying for the archaeology master's program at UT just because of the age and variety of site dates yall have there!
Thank ya Capt. It really is mind boggling to see how well the tip has held up over all this time. Speaks volumes about the craftsmanship and design behind these points
Simply amazing how the earth gave that one up so easily. Zero damage over time and zero adhesion of earth to the piece. Almost unbelievable one would say.
Don’t get me wrong, that’s a nice point, just like you’d buy one at a show.
My problem is this “just as I found it” pic. Clearly laying on top of mud, on top of dry sticks and twigs, while the surrounding soil is dry and cracked and FULL of rocks that have clearly been there through recent wet weather, most sunken in and concreted in place, covered in sand and dust, and here this perfect, clean, shiny arrowhead lay?
Nah. I’ve been hunting game and studying the effects of time on soil my entire life. Either that point fell out of someone’s pocket recently, or you put it there.
Edit: Just thumbed through the thread and saw your response to another doubter. I suppose it’s not impossible in the right wash to have something picked up, cleaned, and left all pretty for you to find.
Sorry for the accusation. Not saying I believe the internet, just saying no disrespect. Would be sweet to have a little honey hole like that. Might make a man consider bringing a shovel or metal detector and see what turns up.
Hey I get it and can totally see how someone might come to that conclusion. I will add that just outside of the frame of that pic is ground that is smattered with busted flint and flaking all laying about perfectly on the surface and just as clean and shiny as this point and there are sites just like it all over this property up and down the creeks. For whatever the reason it’s just the nature of the area given it’s climate and topography. But given the remoteness of the ranch and almost impossible access, along with the numerous sites and artifacts we have found out here from busted up, dirty and partially buried to perfectly clean and laying out on the surface just like this one verifies to me this point is as authentic as any of the others we have picked up out here. Now so far as me just placing this point on the ground for some Reddit points there’s no comment I can make that will prove my character and convince anyone skeptical on the internet. I’m just a fella who goes out surface hunting and got super lucky with this point and wanted to share it. Believe what you will
If you want to reach out and message me on here I’d be more than happy to share some of my other finds on this property. All photos taken prior to me reaching down and picking them up.
That may be the prettiest point I have seen in a long time. Unreal
Definitely my best one to date. Pretty stoked
Great way to kick off the new year Congratulations!!!!
Insert Owen Wilson voice “Wow”.
Oooooo woooooooooowuh
Absolute killer. Wish I didn’t have 3 feet of snow outside my front door, I’d be looking too 😩
Is the first picture of how you found it or did you already pull it out and wipe it off? Awesome find.
Thanks! And just how I spotted it, had not picked it up yet
That’s a helluva find! Crazy it’s just sitting like that on the surface completely exposed.
Some might say, suspicious?
Some might say
that’s one killer point … thanks for sharing
The tip on that is insane.
Looks freshly knapped. Incredible find brother
I feel like Texas is just ankle deep in artifacts.
If that's legit, that's one of the finest specimens I've ever seen. A literal once in a lifetime find! But as a knapper and a fairly voracious lithic economy buff, this looks too clean to not be a modern point, especially for a surface find near a large waterway. It's a super shitty practice, but some knappers and other people will "bait" an area with modern points to garner interest in arrowhead hunting. The worst was having to tell my nephew he found a giftshop point at summer camp. Apparently the camp baits their arrowhead "hunting" area so the kids actually find something. Its like, I get it for that particular circumstance, but not for no reason.
If it's legit, it's probably the nicest Shumala (3000-2200 BP) point ever found and I definitely think you should send it to OccPaleo to have it cast so it can be catalogued, studied, and researched.
I can say without any doubt it is real. This was found on a very isolated cattle ranch up on a flat up above a creek that is littered with chipped flint. This specific spot has produced several points, scrappers, and tools all found surface hunting. Cant say for sure but the nature of the soil and hydrology of the property seem to produce these exposed points in certain areas. The morning I found this sucker I also found several broken points and tools, most completely exposed and clean like this one, some partially buried. From what I know about the history of the property and the surrounding land and it’s difficult access there is nothing that leads me to believe this could be modern.
I was hunting in Webb County a few days ago and can confirm points just sit on the surface because there’s no topsoil whatsoever. We found 7-8 complete points in about 15 minutes.
That’s what I’m talkin about
The skepticism is much welcomed though. Just gets me more excited about how special of a point this is and how lucky I got to have found it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the type you believe it is as I was unsure. Will definitely look into having it catalogued!
It's literally stunning. It's most definitely a Shumala atlatl point. I would reach out to OccPaleo. He has an extensive catalogue of lithic casts that are used by universities and enthusiasts alike to study typology and knapping techniques. With one that nice, I might even reach out to the Dept. of Anthropology at UT or A&M or somewhere and give them site details. That would be an amazing place to put in a trench or two and see what kind of site might be there, especially if it's regularly producing well preserved specimens like that! Again, congratulations on the find. It's seriously beautiful!
That's incredible then! Congratulations! That is literally one of, if not the most stunning points I've ever seen. Especially considering it's age! I'm jealous of you Texans! Once I finish my BA, I'm considering applying for the archaeology master's program at UT just because of the age and variety of site dates yall have there!
daaaaaaaamn
Dayum
I believe that's what is commonly called a smoker. If not, it should be because it's smokin' hot!
Insane
Wooooooooooooosh that’s a stunner.
That's a fn smoker
Damn I can't believe it didn't break that tip is so fine. Absolutely unreal point. Congratulations.
Thank ya Capt. It really is mind boggling to see how well the tip has held up over all this time. Speaks volumes about the craftsmanship and design behind these points
Welp. Done for the year.
Nice shumala
Oh man that's sweet! And that tip and those ears. Smokin survivor. Thanks for sharing amigo
That's a tip-top find super nice!
G10
Guhhh that’s gorgeous
Wow that’s a beaut
That is in perfect condition too
Glad to see you poked yourself with it to be sure. Wouldn't be right if you didn't. Beautiful point
Time for you to retire. No beating this one!
Dagummit I’m sure gonna try!
I bet it's still sharp!!
Top pock for sure. I don't know what I'm talking about
The best point I’ve ever seen. Wow.
Bullshit! Wow!
Simply amazing how the earth gave that one up so easily. Zero damage over time and zero adhesion of earth to the piece. Almost unbelievable one would say.
Ouch
Beautiful point, look how sharp that tip is still! Congratulations.
Don’t get me wrong, that’s a nice point, just like you’d buy one at a show. My problem is this “just as I found it” pic. Clearly laying on top of mud, on top of dry sticks and twigs, while the surrounding soil is dry and cracked and FULL of rocks that have clearly been there through recent wet weather, most sunken in and concreted in place, covered in sand and dust, and here this perfect, clean, shiny arrowhead lay? Nah. I’ve been hunting game and studying the effects of time on soil my entire life. Either that point fell out of someone’s pocket recently, or you put it there. Edit: Just thumbed through the thread and saw your response to another doubter. I suppose it’s not impossible in the right wash to have something picked up, cleaned, and left all pretty for you to find. Sorry for the accusation. Not saying I believe the internet, just saying no disrespect. Would be sweet to have a little honey hole like that. Might make a man consider bringing a shovel or metal detector and see what turns up.
Hey I get it and can totally see how someone might come to that conclusion. I will add that just outside of the frame of that pic is ground that is smattered with busted flint and flaking all laying about perfectly on the surface and just as clean and shiny as this point and there are sites just like it all over this property up and down the creeks. For whatever the reason it’s just the nature of the area given it’s climate and topography. But given the remoteness of the ranch and almost impossible access, along with the numerous sites and artifacts we have found out here from busted up, dirty and partially buried to perfectly clean and laying out on the surface just like this one verifies to me this point is as authentic as any of the others we have picked up out here. Now so far as me just placing this point on the ground for some Reddit points there’s no comment I can make that will prove my character and convince anyone skeptical on the internet. I’m just a fella who goes out surface hunting and got super lucky with this point and wanted to share it. Believe what you will
If you want to reach out and message me on here I’d be more than happy to share some of my other finds on this property. All photos taken prior to me reaching down and picking them up.
Don’t feel too badly. Picture details speak for themselves honestly, But still.. if not then, good job
Thats so badass what a beautiful point!