5 Places To Find Arrowheads In Arkansas

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Arrowhead hunting in the natural state is a fantastic pastime shared by many. Arkansas is an arrowhead goldmine with many heritage sites and rich indigenous history.

Below we investigate some prominent areas for arrowhead hunting! Here are the 5 best places to find arrowheads in Arkansas.

Note: Arrowheads, spear points, and other primitive cultural artifacts and tools are highly regulated and often protected. Always consult with the local, state, and federal laws in your area before looking, and never search on private property without permission. It is illegal to remove arrowheads and artifacts from public land.

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Where to Find Arrowheads in Arkansas 

Native Americans were relatively well spread through Arkansas, and most collectors find arrowheads along rivers, creeks, and the surrounding areas, including forests and plains. Some farmers allow day visitors to collect arrowheads from their property, but collecting from public land is illegal.

Native American Indian tribes lived and moved across much of Arkansas and inhabited the area for almost 14,000 years! The prominent tribes were the Caddos, Osages, Quapaws, and Cherokees (later). 

Areas near permanent water sources that flow year-round, such as rivers and creeks, are always great places to start. Surrounding forests and plains are also good places to explore.

5 Places To Find Arrowheads In Arkansas

Remember collecting arrowheads from public land is illegal, but collecting on private land is not. You’ll always need to acquire the landowner’s permission before entering their property or risk trespassing.

Ouachita Renegade Ranch

The Renegade Ranch owners opened a field for the public to come and dig for arrowheads and other artifacts. Located in East Mena, along the Ouachita River, Renegade Ranch allows you to keep the arrowheads you find.

The digging fees include:

  • $10.00 – Half a day
  • $15.00 – Full day
  • $75.00 – Full week

National And State Forests

It is illegal to remove arrowheads and other artifacts from public (Federal and State) land.

However, it is not illegal to walk around looking for arrowheads (where you have permission). Find arrowheads, appreciate them, photograph them, and leave them where you find them.

You can find arrowheads at several national parks and heritage sites, including:

  • Parkin Archeological State Park– there is a Mississippian period Indian village and archeological works.
  • Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park– there is an “open” archeological site in this park and the largest mound complex.
  • Crowley’s Ridge State Park– near to the Sloan Site (closed to the public)

See Also: The 5 Best Places To Find Arrowheads In Missouri

Rivers And Lakes

Rivers and their associated features (lakes, creeks, wetlands, etc.) are the superior arrowhead yielding grounds in Arkansas. Most early tribes lived within proximity to water bodies.

Rivers collect water from the surrounding area, so any arrowheads in the area often end up in rivers on sandbars, pinch points, and tributaries.

In Arkansas, 5 rivers are large and defined as navigable, including:

  • The Arkansas River
  • The Mississippi River 
  • The Red River
  • The Ouachita River 
  • The White River

These larger rivers often count as “public land,” so we’d advise against collecting arrowheads from here.

Rather seek out private property nearby these rivers, or smaller rivers (such as the Saint Francis River) and water bodies regarded as “private property” and get the land owner’s permission to look around. 

Other Farmers’ Fields

Permission is required before heading off to scour a farmer’s fields. But once obtained, farms boarding rivers and creek beds that are recently plowed (and after recent rain) are great places to look for arrowheads.

Construction Sites

During phases of land development, construction companies tear up large tracts of land.

Ask permission, and you might be allowed to access the site over weekends (when they’re not busy) to skim for arrowheads.

Try and target areas near creeks, rivers, forests, or known historical settlements.

Digging and Collecting Arrowheads in Arkansas

It is illegal to try and dig up arrowheads from federal and state land, including national and state parks and the Corp of Engineers’ land. 

Don’t collect surface arrowheads on state and federal land. Finding arrowheads here, appreciating them, and photographing them is not an issue; however, removing them could result in up to $250,000 in fines and 10 years of jail time.

With the landowner’s permission, collecting on private property is your best bet. Once you find arrowheads, record the details (including photos) and inform the local archeology institution. 

Note: Arrowheads, spear points, and other primitive cultural artifacts and tools are highly regulated and often protected. Always consult with the local, state, and federal laws in your area before looking, and never search on private property without permission. It is illegal to remove arrowheads and artifacts from public land.

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