Arrow heads (three)
Object NameArrow heads (three)
MediumRocks
DimensionsA: 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)
B: 2 in. (5.1 cm)
C: 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm)
ClassificationsTools, Implements and Scientific Equipment
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Robertson. In the Farm House Museum Collection, Farm House Museum, University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Object number85.13.2abc
Status
On viewCollections
CultureNative American
Label TextArrowheads have long fascinated collectors as tangible links to Indigenous history and prehistoric lifeways. Indigenous artisans shaped these tools from stone through skilled flintknapping, combining practical function with refined craftsmanship. Variations in shape, size, and material reveal differences in region, time period, and cultural tradition. Collecting arrowheads gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when rising interest in archaeology and frontier history encouraged amateur collectors. While early collectors often valued aesthetic appeal or rarity, modern perspectives emphasize ethical collecting, cultural respect, and the importance of archaeological context. Today, people recognize arrowheads not as simple curiosities but as meaningful cultural artifacts connected to living Indigenous communities.
Locations
- (not entered) Iowa State University, Farm House Museum
Object Name: Leather case with silver instruments
Object number: 86.5.20a-d
