Arrowheads and stone tools weren’t just tools—they were often traded like money. Tribes valued them for their usefulness and skillful craftsmanship, making them a form of early currency in Native American trade long before coins came along.

Collection of three knapped stone projectile points / hafted knives attributed to Ohio, retained together with the collector's handwritten notation: "SET OF 3 NICE OHIO POINTS."

All three display substantial hand-flaking and pronounced stems/hafting areas. The center specimen is particularly impressive because of its large size and elongated blade, while the two lighter examples provide an attractive contrast in stone color and surface character.

Ohio is particularly rich in prehistoric lithic traditions, with major indigenous toolstone sources including Flint Ridge and Coshocton flint. Chert/flint was extensively worked into projectile points, knives and other implements.

From Left to Right

• Left: Cream/white mottled chert point with broad shoulders and a distinctly expanded stem/base.
• Center: Large brown/tan chert or similar cryptocrystalline stone point/knife, elongated blade, substantial stem and comparatively heavy construction. This is the standout specimen of the group.
• Right: Light cream/white chert point with a broad triangular blade, defined shoulders and expanded stem/base.

Possible Identification & Age

Ohio has numerous visually overlapping stemmed traditions spanning thousands of years. Recognized stemmed types include Kirk, Benton, Adena, Cresap, Robbins, Genesee and many others. The center point deserves additional investigation as an Adena-family or related large stemmed form — Adena points can range from roughly 1.36–6 inches, characteristically have elongated blades and broad stems, and are strongly associated with the Ohio River Valley. Sold as a possible Adena-related form, not an authenticated Adena artifact.

Attribution

• Region: Ohio, per collector notation
• Culture: Prehistoric Native American / Indigenous North American
• Period: Undetermined; potentially Archaic–Woodland traditions
• Material: Chert/flint or related cryptocrystalline stone
• Artifact Type: Stemmed projectile points / hafted knives
• Quantity: 3

Condition

All three appear substantially complete. They exhibit the irregularities, edge losses, patination, deposits and surface wear expected of collected lithic material. The center point has especially convincing aged surface character. Exact archaeological type, age, material source and provenance have not been independently authenticated.