Try and target areas near creeks, rivers, forests, or known historical settlements. Archeologists quite literally dig up artifacts from the past that help us understand the history of our lands and all the people who have called it home dating back thousands of years (if not longer). The same culture built the earthen works preserved at Cahokia Mounds in Illinois. The leaf blades that emerge above water vary in shape but are most typically arrowhead-shaped or halberd-shaped, with well-developed basal lobes. 217 Route TT 573-564-3476 MoStateParks.com, This park contains the largest group of petroglyphs yet discovered in Missouri, evidence of American Indian culture from around 1000. In general, collecting artifacts is illegal on public lands. Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District. These nubbins are receptacles that hold a cluster of many densely packed pistils that mature to become flattened, usually wing-edged seeds that are ribbed on the sides. Take a trail to the site where bones and artifacts were found. Fake Labradorite: Focus on These 8 Differences. Check Elk/Bear Permit Application Results, Managing Invasive Species in Your Community, Wildflowers, Grasses and Other Nonwoody Plants. Find out more in the article below: How Long Do Rocks Form? Pictured are three examples of Mississippian culture avian-themed repouss copper plates. Your eyes must scan every inch of the ground, looking for a sign. Finding your first arrowhead is difficult. In the area mines, you can find various things such as barite, chalcopyrite, calcite, cerussite, dolomite, galena, malachite, marcasite, pyrite, sphalerite, or smithsonite. You should also consider keeping a record of your finds. Surface artifact hunting is a fun and rewarding hobby whether solo or with friends and family. 100 Historic Route 66 573-774-6171 WaynesvilleMo.org/encampment.htm, View rare Native American moccasins and other artifacts depicting life long ago in Platte County. Its illegal AND immoral to do so. The hot sun dries and hardens the ground. Another great southwestern Missouri rockhounding location is Eldon and Etterville. When construction companies develop land for buildings or infrastructure, the area is torn up in preparation. In Missouri, you can find mozarkite, agates, geodes, quartz, pyrite, chert, jasper, opal, jasper, chalcedony, smithsonite, sphalerite, and various other minerals, and gemstones. Most people report that uncooked duck potatoes, though edible, are not very tasty. Of our seven species, three typically have the characteristic arrowhead or halberd-shaped leaves, with large basal lobes, and occur nearly statewide: Four of our species have leaves that are not arrowhead or halberd-shaped; two of them are uncommon and have limited distributions: Similar species: Water plantains (Alisma spp.)