When I was a kid (about 15 years ago), I found an indian axe head on the shore of a lake in Oklahoma. The corp. of engineers had just hauled in a new load of sand for the beach, in which my artifact was contained, so I don’t know where it came from (more than likely, the Arkansas river here). Any ideas on what a relic like this would be worth and what are the deciding factors? If I took it to a university could they take it from me as a national treasure (I’ve heard this).
Check out the likes of Ebay, and sites like this one for how much such artefacts are being sold off for.
As a WAG, I’d say that your axehead’s archeological value would be diminished due to the fact that it wasn’t sighted in situ. A glance at sites of Google seem to point to it being a crime in the US to loot or steal from known archeological sites, not simply pick up something from an isolated position.
hmm, mine looks more like a tomahawk head. More for killing than chopping.
Ahh another thread to which I can contribute based soly on my profession!
As an American and an Archaeologist I’ll give you the dope!
A museum would only buy it if it were rare. And as I can not see a pic, I’d say you stumbled across a run of the mill axe head or bludgeoning stone, commonly used in war and as decoration. I doubt anyone would give you more than a few bucks for it. Unless it looked similar to one of these. your out of luck. Why don’t you keep it as a nice relic. I have ton’s of nice minerals, stones, relics at my house. They are set in shelves and lit up for display…but then again refer back too my profession…I’m a rock hound.