Can you dig for arrowheads in Illinois?

Can you dig for arrowheads in Illinois?

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources owns and manages thousands of archaeological sites on land it oversees. It is illegal for anyone to either collect or engage in digging into an archaeological site on public lands.

Where is the best place to look for arrowheads?

Lakes, ponds, shallow creeks, and rivers that offered clean, pure water are a great place to find arrowheads. Spring-fed lakes, ponds, and rivers had a consistent flow and never stagnated.

Where can I dig for arrowheads?

Minimal cover, sand and desert areas will be the easiest to spot any surface arrowheads. Recently plowed land offers artifact hunters an opportunity to find objects hidden just beneath the surface. Forested areas or fields with lush ground cover will make spotting artifacts quite tricky.

Where can I find arrowheads in the woods?

Walk creeks and look for unnatural colored rocks and shapes. In some cases, natives used non-local stone like obsidian, which makes the points stand out. Flowing water sifts gravel into different sizes along gravel bars. Look for points in gravel bars where rocks are similar in size to the points you’re hoping to find.

How deep are arrowheads in the ground?

There will usually be a foot or two worth of soft ground followed by harder ground if you dig. Any artifacts are quite likely buried in the softer ground. Water might bury an artifact under softer ground over time, but an arrowhead is not likely to end up under the harder ground.

How old are arrowheads in Illinois?

Some experts believe artifacts found in central Illinois could be 9,000 years old. SPRINGFIELD — About 40 exceptionally well-carved arrowheads found by a group of boys in Tazewell County in 1916 might be much older than originally thought.

Do all creeks have arrowheads?

Creeks and rivers with low water levels will expose much more of the gravel bars and creek beds, which is where the arrowheads can be found. Also look in the eroded sides of the creeks that would normally be covered with water.

What should I look for when hunting arrowheads?

How deep are arrowheads usually buried?

Is arrowheads worth any money?

An arrowhead can be worth $20,000 in the best cases, even though it might only be worth $5, and an average arrowhead is only worth about $20. If there is something special about an arrowhead that makes it stand out, it may be worth a lot more than usual.