Location Search

[Lithic Hunter]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this forum and new to relic hunting so I need some help. Not to long ago I found a beautiful 2" arrowhead in a creekbed near my home in Chicago and now I got the hunting itch real bad! I heard of great finds along the Kankakee river, Starved rock and the Cook County Forest Preserves. I was wondering if anyone had any advice or locations to hunt.

Since I am new I have not had the chance to explore this forum so please excuse me if I am asking stupid questions. Also how would I go about finding Indian village sites, middens and chipping stations? What clues do I need to look for.

Thank you all very much for your advice and I look forward to the fun to come on this forum.

Have a good day,

Lithic Hunter

[raw-war-digger]

Hello Lithic Hunter, Welcome to the Forum and hope You enjoy it!
If I were you I would do some research on the Laws in Illinois as far as collecting Indian Artifacts. Each State has their own Laws along with Federal Laws protecting Burial/Grave Sites (NO DIGGING ALLOWED). Here in Tennessee, TVA (Federal) owns the right of way along the Tennessee River and passed a Law about 5 year ago stating if anyone is caught looking the banks (their right of way) for Indian Relics or Civil War Relics would be FINED (best I remember it's around $250 - $300). I've only heard of a few fines and the Local Game Wardens really don't mind as long as your not digging craters. One never knows when the TVA Police will come by? Private Land is ok but still no digging Graves!
After You feel good to go and gain permission to look, I always looked for a rise (mound) above the lower bottom land. Usually you will find something on this mound if it has been plowed. If your just hunting the creeks and/or rivers, walk the waters edge & close to the drop off. When you find a spot that is cluttered with mussel shells imbedded in the bank from ground level down as much as 2 to 3 ft, this was at least a Camp site.....may have just been used for a short time or for several year. Look for areas where unusual rocks, not native to the other surroundings (not truck loads dumped to stop erosion) are stuck in the bank and cluttered below. Look for work on the pieces, Chert (Flint) was chipped and flaked while Rock was ground and smooth (Gorgets, Banner Stones, Discoidals, Celts, Boat Stones, etc).
Until you learn what's what, just bring home everything unusual as I did in my starting state!
I'll be happy to assist you anyway possible!
I could add much more but it's getting very long now.
Happy Hunting & Good Luck, Roger
BTW, Post a scan of that 2" point if you like, we would love to see it!

[Lithic Hunter]

Hello and Thank you both for the information. I have started to look at the Illinois laws and this weekend I will try to get out to hunt. I will try and post the pic when I figure out how to go about it.

I look forward to more discussions.

Thank you,

LH

[oberkill]

Glad to see you came over! Let us know how you do this weekend. Have you looked to see if there are any groups in your area that collect Indian arftifacts?

Alan

[raw-war-digger]

Hello LH, Hoping everything went well and You have several finds to show us!
On your next post: after typing in the message just scroll down to the next section and you will find a "Manage Attachment" box. Click on this and it will bring up another page with 5 empty boxes and "BROWSE" beside each. Click on the Browse box and it should direct you to your saved pictures. Just find your picture/scan of interest and double click it. After you have entered all (total of 5 per page) click on the upload box provided in the lower left......give it time to send this picture(s). I've had problems before and had to do it all over again as many as three times. After your finished uploading scans, click the lower (in the upload portion) Submit Reply and your finished.

If You need further assistance just PM me of email me!
Hoping You Had A Great Weekend, Roger

[Lithic Hunter]

Good Morning Everyone,

Well I went hunting on Saturday and found nothing . I think that this area has been well cleaned out as the woods were once farms and I have heard stories how everyone would go out after a rain and collect artifacts. I am sure that there are still relics waiting out there but unfortunately they are few . I know they must be there because I found that arrowhead.

In a couple of weeks hopefully I will be able to drive to the country where my uncle knows the farmers . I can then walk the fields and have a better chance at finding something. I will try and scan the point but it will be a while as the scanner is at my parents house, that's where raw-war-digger's advice will come into play for posting pic's.

Thank you all for your well wishes and I hope that you had better hunting weekends.

Thanks,

LH

[Oz_IL]

If you want to remove anything from the Cook County Forest Preserves you need to get a permit, hence the keyword "preserves".

Not sure how you get a permit though, sorry