william_garcia•1mo agoMost Upvoted

The day I found a Native American arrowhead in a client's backyard

I was digging a hole for a new flower bed in Phoenix last spring and my shovel hit something hard. Pulled out this perfect little arrowhead, maybe 2 inches long, still sharp on the edges. I had to stop and think: should I show the homeowner right away or keep it quiet? The homeowner ended up calling a local archaeologist who said it was probably from the Hohokam people, like 800 years old. What would you do if you found something like that on a job site? Turn it in or keep it?

3 comments

3 Comments

murray.jana1mo ago

That's a tough spot to be in for sure. I think most people would have that internal debate about what's the right thing to do. Your gut reaction to stop and think shows you have a good head on your shoulders.

the_mary1mo ago

Four people have found meteorites in New York in the last century, which puts that rock in a super rare category whether it's worth money or not. @kelly638 might be right that people get dramatic, but even a "worthless" meteorite has scientific value that a lot of museums would want. Holding onto it isn't about being stuck with junk - it's about having a piece of something that fell from space, which is pretty cool no matter what.

kelly6381mo agoMost Upvoted

People get way too dramatic about this stuff. It's just a rock, not the Declaration of Independence. The archaeologist probably told them it was worth nothing and now they're stuck with a box of old junk on their shelf.