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Native American Arrowhead

Spotlight on the Collection…“Native American Arrowheads”

  Saturday, May 15th – 2-3 P M

Museum Meeting Room

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

important archaeological 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 guests 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 the 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!  The program is open free to the public; we just ask that you bring a like item from your collection, or share a story about a like item.  See you on May 15th!