Bird Points

[Steve Valentine]

Bird Points differ from state to state and from coast to coast as far as styles go. But the one thing they all have in common is their diminutive size. Most true Bird Points are under 1 inch in lentgh, though there are some examples like the Scallorn, Catahoula, Agee, and some of the Caddo types can reach a few inches long and are still considered Bird Points. Also, I know a lot of the southern folks consider Triangle Points as Birds, but I never did.

In Ohio, according to Ohio Flint Types written by Robert Converse, Bird Points are from around 1,900 BC. Though previously thought to be from the Mississippian/Ft Ancient time period they are now thought to be much older and that the Bow and Arrow was actually introduced much earlier than originally postulated. Bird Points in Ohio were found in burials of the Glacial Kame period and that is how they were dated at 1,900 BC.

The most common style of Bird Point in Ohio is the Corner Notch type, though there have also been Stemmed and Side Notch types found as well. If you consider the Triangle a Bird Point they would fall into the Late Woodland Culture and date from around 950 to 1650 AD, at least in Ohio they would.

I'm going to post some pictures of the common types found in my area of southern Ohio and feel free to post types from your area and give a description of the types. I know Texas has some very funky looking Birds so we definitely need to see some of those.

Reference: Ohio Flint Types, by Robert Converse. Published by The Archaeological Society Ohio, 1994.

[Steve Valentine]

Here's a couple more pictures.

[rmartin]

Great frames Steve. I am going to get some on here before the Texas guys chime in Lol

[Wildhorse]

I found these all in and along the Yakima river part of the Columbia River drainage system. All are well under 1"

[karatekid069]

I found these all in and along the Yakima river part of the Columbia River drainage system. All are well under 1"

nice ones!! Good color!

[Wildhorse]

Thank you karatekid069; Your area should have some nice color also. Lakeview is a great area to be from.

[Artifactkid]

Hey all here is a pic of all my bird points!! All from great basin area.

Chuck

[comanche]

Texas Birds




"Edwards",,Central Texas Find

[derekcopas]

Nice points guys. My dad has an eagle eye for those small birds. He has several that are about the size of a pea. If you didn't know what to look for, they would just look like a chip of flint unless laying right on top of the ground.

[mootsman]

And for those new to collection. The term bird point hearkens back to when folks actually thought they were used for, well, hunting birds because of their small size. It's now generally agreed that they are true arrow points. Here's a few from down GA way with the darker colored one being courtesy of Steve V.