Idaho River Site Is A Treasure Trove Of Arrowheads And Artifacts
For anyone who has an interest in Idaho history, there's a region in the northwestern portion of the state that has been yielding centuries-old artifacts for decades that have helped scientists and educators get a better understanding of who lived and visited the state in Neolithic times.
While the harvesting or removal of Indian artifacts from Idaho lands is illegal, for many, the thrill of the hunt is more exciting than anything. These old treasures help explain how wanderers and settlers survived during times of harsh and vulnerable existence. From the deserts of southern Idaho to the forested panhandle in the state's north, there is an abundance of crude tools, coins, jewelry, and other valuables once held dear by dwellers of the time.
Located 370-miles northwest of Twin Falls is an area known as Cooper's Ferry. It's been a region of Idaho that has proven to provide the state with ancient American artifacts, and many university excavation sites are still active in the region. Some of the artifacts unearthed along the riverbanks at Cooper's Ferry have been dated at 12,000 years and older.
Websites such as Fieldandstream.com and Outdoorsmecca.com offer great tips on how to locate arrowheads and other artifacts that might be lying in wait for discovery near where you live. Several Indian tribes once flourished throughout the Gem State, so there's no doubt personal items such as weapons and tools once used by these tribesmen and women scattered throughout Idaho. Just be sure to bury what you find right where you found it before you leave the site.