Spotlight on the Collection: ''Native American Arrowheads''

Spotlight on the Collection: "Native Amercian Arrowheads"

 

An arrowhead is a tip, usually sharpened, added to an arrow to make it more deadly or to fulfill some special purpose.  Historically, arrowheads are made of stone.  As human civilization progressed, other materials were used.  Arrowheads are an important archaelogical artifact and they are a subclass of projectile points.

 

The Museum has many types of stone tools in our Native American artifact collection including tips, points, spears, scrapers, celts, and large hand held and grooved axes.  With such a variety of items, our Spotlight will focus primarily on arrowheads, but guest are welcome to bring any stone tools from their collection to share.

 

In conjunction with Minnesota Archeology week, May 7th - May 15th, the McLeod County Historical Society will take a look at the Museum's vast collection of local Native American arrowheads.  The collection has been completely donated by individual citizens of McLeod County and spans thousands of years of local history.

 

Native Americans designed many different types of arrowheads and spear points, with around 1,200 types known on record.  Much can be determined from an arrowhead if you can identify some key clues.  Some of the clues to look for are: "What material is it made out of?", "Where was the point found?", and "What is the overall design or shape?"  Once these questions have been answered, a whole world of culture and history opens up surrounding the stone tool.  When you find an arrowhead, spearhead or point, it becomes a gateway to a culture of man that existed possibly thousands of years ago.  It is amazing to realize that someone long ago hunted and fished on the same soil you are standing on when you find an arrowhead artifact!  Please join us for our Spotlight on the Collection: "Arrowheads" on May 15, 210!  The program is open and free to the public.  We would like to encourage you to bring a like item from your collection, or share a story about a like item.