Yesterday, I took an arrowhead representative of a point in time to an Archaeological Roadshow event in Bend, Oregon for a free evaluation. I found the arrowhead on our property northeast of Bend. This event is organized and hosted by Portland State University, the Deschutes Historical Society, and the Archaeology Society of Central Oregon.
The Lens-Artists Photo Challenge this week is to focus on a subject and I chose to feature pictures of my arrowhead. Several guidelines were listed and it was suggested we pick two or three of them. Since I don’t always follow the rules, I decided to present examples of all of them. 😀
In the first photo, I zoomed in on the arrowhead that I had placed on one of my western juniper trees. I love the bark on these trees.
In the second photo, I used the leading lines created by a long-dead sagebrush shrub. Leading lines are not always straight.
The third photo shows an example of negative space. This is what the arrowhead looked like when I found it. It was like a piece that did not fit into the puzzle of sandy soil.
In the fourth photo, I used selective focus. I placed the arrowhead on its side on top of part of a thunderegg rock I collected north of Madras, Oregon.
In the fifth photo, I simplified the background. I placed the arrowhead on a piece of weathered wood in my yard.
In the last photo, I changed the placement of the subject. I stuck the arrowhead between the furrows of a juniper tree’s bark. You can see the slim profile of this arrowhead when viewed from this angle.
Evaluation of my point in time
So what did the archaeologists at the event say about my arrowhead? They took several photos for their records and asked where I had collected it. They marveled at the craftmanship of this artifact. A master flintknapper created this arrowhead during a long ago point in time.
The archaeologists excitedly passed it from person to person working at the booth. One of them remarked the piece was “the cat’s meow.” That phrase means it’s excellent or outstanding.
Then came the most exciting part. They estimated this arrowhead’s age at 10,000 years. Wow!
There are several sites within an hour or so of my home where ancient artifacts have been found. At the Rimrock Draw Shelter site, the artifacts found so far are estimated to be 18,000 years old. That makes them some of the oldest found in North America.
For a quick summary of laws related to collecting on federal, state, and private lands, check out this page from the Oregon Archaeological Society.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Focus on the subject
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Wow what a special find Siobhan, and what an experience to connect with something that was made so long ago 🧡 xxx
Yes, it was. I was so excited when they told me how old it was. 🙂
That’s amazing Siobhan. How great that your discovery happened at a perfect time to have it evaluated!! And 10,000 years no less! Incredible – good for you for recognizing it was a treasure.
Thank you, Tina! I knew it was special. 🙂
PS. do you know what the arrowhead was made of?
No, they didn’t know the exact kind of stone it was made from. It has two distinct colors. Archaeologists don’t always know about geology. I know it’s not obsidian. We collected a bunch of obsidian on Friday.
Amazing! Loved reading about this and the age is impressive.
Yes, it was! I couldn’t believe it was that old.
Creative use of the challenge, very cool!
Thanks, Pamela! 😀
I also have some artifact from the original inhabitants of my place. Doesn’t it feel amazing to hold something that was made and held by someone a millennia ago.
So fabulous Siobhan and good use of the challenge to highlight the photos of the arrowhead
Thanks! That’s great you found some too, Brian. Yes, it’s hard to express how exciting it was to learn of my arrowhead’s past.
Did anyone know what tribe it may have been from? Did you have tribes that camped near-by? My place was a route from one river to another as the Aboriginal people were nomadic.
If it’s as old as they suggested, it predates any existing tribes. The Indigenous people here were also nomadic. The land where I live was inhabited by the Northern Paiute in the recent past.
Thanks for the info
Totally awesome! Your eye and insights are wonderful! Fresh air!
10K years old, oh my! Celeste
Thank you, Celeste! Yeah, that arrowhead is really old.
What a great find, Siobhan!
Yes, it was, John! I was very happy to have found it.
wow I agree, it is a very exciting find, there is no way that we would ever find something like that here.
Yes, it was exciting! You never know when you might find a hidden treasure.
I enjoyed the way you took a single subject and photographed it in different locations and situations to illustrate all these compositional techniques. But more than that, I was awed by the find itself – how marvellous to have found and to be able to handle something so ancient!
Thanks, Sarah! It was nice to work with such a cooperative ‘model.’ 😉 Yes, I’m in awe of the arrowhead.
What a wonderful find, so exciting!
Yes, it was, Sofia!
What a nice find!
It sure was, Brian! 😀