Tried a DIY soil flotation method on my site and found 3 arrowheads

I was digging a test pit in my backyard near Topeka and decided to try floating the soil in a bucket of water instead of dry screening. I just poured the dirt into a 5 gallon bucket, stirred it, and poured off the top layer. After doing that about 6 times, I had a pile of rocks and heavier stuff left at the bottom. That's where I found three small chert arrowheads I would have missed with a standard screen. It took about 2 hours per bucket but the recovery rate was way better than I expected. Has anyone else tried water screening on small home sites?

2 comments

2 Comments

susana6617d ago

Think about the time you wasted though. Two hours per bucket for three small arrowheads means you could have dry screened three times as much dirt and probably found more. Most hobbyists I know skip water methods on small sites because the extra time and mess just aren't worth the tiny gains. You might get a few extra finds but you lose too many hours you could spend digging more spots.

terryf6217d ago

Heard an old timer say water's the only way to not miss the tiny chips...