How to Find Arrowheads in Wyoming

Arrowheads range from tiny carved arrow points to stone knife blades and large spear heads. Typically arrowheads are made of chipped flint or other stone, bone, or ceramic. Certain types of arrowheads, such as Clovis, Billings and Oxbow, have historically been found in Wyoming. There is an art to consistently finding arrowheads. Arrowheads must be sought out carefully, and the arrowhead hunter must pay deference to local laws. Arrowhead hunting has become a controversial act, because not all arrowhead hunters follow ethical codes when they hunt for arrowheads. Hunting arrowheads in a careless manner can result in damage to artifacts and the loss of potential historical knowledge.

Look for potential village sites or campsites using a topographic map. Although Native Americans frequently lost arrowheads during hunts, far more were abandoned in villages and campsites. You will have the best luck finding arrowheads in these abandoned settlements. Good sites for hunting include the banks or dry beds of ancient rivers and streams where wildlife would have been abundant, and terraces that were once the banks of ancient floodplains.

Talk to local residents or people who work in the area you are searching. Local legends may point the way to ancient settlements. Additionally, loggers or farmers may have seen something helpful at some point, and may be willing to advise you.

Search early in the day. The light from early morning until noon is best for arrowhead sightings.

Walk over surfaces that have been exposed due to erosion, farming, or construction. Farming and construction sites are less likely to produce whole arrowheads. The action of earth movers often chips and breaks these artifacts. Walk in a grid pattern, sweeping your eyes from right to left and back again in a fan shape, scan the ground. Walk in a narrow grid when you see signs such as worked stone. Walk in a looser grid when you see no signs.

Explore village or camp sites after heavy rainstorms, as these storms will often uncover arrowheads. A rainstorm sufficient to uncover artifacts must rain at least 3 inches in a short period of time. As you explore, look for variations in color in the soil. Most artifacts are a different color than the soil.

Examine worked stone, but do not save it. Worked stone includes chips of stone that have been discarded in the process of making arrowheads and other tools. The presence of worked stone may indicate arrowheads nearby. You will find worked stone in much greater quantities than you will find arrowheads.

Search creeks for arrowheads that have been carried there by erosion.