Is there an app for identifying arrowheads?

Yes — PointFinder is an AI-powered arrowhead identification app that lets you photograph any arrowhead or projectile point and receive instant identification from a database of 4,700+ North American point types. It provides the type name, cultural affiliation, time period, geographic region, material, and a confidence score. PointFinder uses GPT-4 Vision and visual similarity matching for accurate results. Available as a web app, iOS app, and Android app.

What is the best arrowhead identification app?

PointFinder is widely considered the most comprehensive arrowhead identification app, with the largest database of 4,700+ projectile point types covering all of North America. Unlike other apps that only offer basic identification, PointFinder combines AI photo scanning with 26+ interactive map layers for finding hunting spots, a marketplace for buying and selling artifacts, a community platform, 60+ educational articles, trip planning tools, and a campground directory — all in one app.

How do I identify a projectile point I found?

To identify a projectile point, take a clear photo of it (ideally on a plain background with a scale reference) and upload it to PointFinder's AI scanner. The app analyzes the point's shape, flaking patterns, material, and proportions, then compares it against 4,700+ known types to provide likely matches with detailed information about each type's culture, time period, and geographic distribution. You can also browse the full gallery of types to compare manually.

Where can I find arrowheads near me?

PointFinder's interactive map features 26+ data layers to help you find productive arrowhead hunting locations. These include archaeological hotspot maps, community-reported find locations, creek systems (where artifacts erode out), public land boundaries, Native American territory overlays, lithic source locations, and campground directories. The app also includes a trip planner and GPS hunt tracker for your expeditions.

How many types of arrowheads are there in North America?

There are thousands of recognized projectile point types across North America, spanning over 15,000 years of human history. PointFinder's database catalogs 4,700+ distinct types, including well-known ones like Clovis, Folsom, Dalton, Kirk, Thebes, Lost Lake, and many more. Each type is classified by cultural affiliation, time period, geographic region, material preferences, and diagnostic characteristics.

Illinois Arrowheads and Projectile Points

Name: PointFinder
Author: PointFinder

This catalog-backed guide explores projectile point references that explicitly mention Illinois. It is an identification starting point, not a record of private finds or archaeological site locations.

Arrowhead Types Referenced for Illinois

Brewerton Kentucky — Late Archaic , 4,000-2,500 BCE
Cahokia — Middle Mississippian , 1,000-850 CE
Cahokia Mound 72 — Cahokia Culture , 1,100-500 BCE
Cahokia Side-Notch — Cahokia Culture , 1,100-500 BCE
Cahokia Side-Notched — Mississippian Cahokia Mounds , 1,100-500 BP (900-1,400 CE)
Cahokia Side-Notched — Mississippian - Cahokia , 1,000-850 CE
Dickson — Woodland , 3,000-1,000 BCE
Dickson Contracting Stem — Early Woodland , 2,500-1,800 BCE
Dickson Illinois — Early Woodland , 2,500-1,800 BP
Durst Minnesota — Late Archaic transitioning Woodland , 3,000 B.P.
Durst Stemmed — Late Archaic , 3,000 BCE
Durst Stemmed — Late Archaic , 5,500-3,500 BCE

Indigenous History and Cultural Periods

Paleo-Indian (12,000-8,000 BCE): Early hunters south of glacial ice sheets
Archaic (8,000-1,000 BCE): Koster site evidence, diverse hunting traditions
Havana Hopewell (200 BCE-400 CE): Major ceremonial centers, elaborate burial practices
Mississippian (900-1,400 CE): Cahokia Mounds, largest pre-Columbian city north of Mexico

How to Identify a Illinois Arrowhead

Compare the base, stem, notches, flaking, material, and overall outline with the linked type guides. Similar point styles can span neighboring regions and long periods, so provenance and expert review still matter.

Review artifact collection laws before collecting or disturbing any site.

Scan your arrowhead free with PointFinder