0
In North America, arrowheads were originally made of obsidian (volcanic glass), bone, copper, flint, chert or carved in one piece with the arrowshaft wood. The material used depended entirely on what was available locally, or what could be traded from other native groups.
Native copper was found around the Great Lakes and could be simply pounded flat with a hammer stone, then worked into shape and sharpened. Obsidian was used on the west coast and the Great Basin area; flint was used on the east coast, in the Upper Midwest, on the west coast, in the Great Basin and the south-west.
Bone, particularly deer leg bone, made a reasonably sharp point. The Powhatan and other east coast people also made wooden points which were carved in one piece with the shaft, which was often of hickory.
Almost all native groups ceased making arrowheads of these materials as soon as white traders brought ready-made metal points, or sheets of brass or iron and tools for the natives to make their own metal points. By the 1850s the Plains tribes had mostly lost the knowledge of how to make stone points - the Crows later claimed that flint points found in their region were made by a mythical race of dwarfs. Reliance on metal arrowheads from traders was widespread by that time, except in areas where traders had not ventured; these included the California tribes and many of the south-western groups.
The Californian Yahi native called Ishi continued to make tiny stone points (and beautiful glass arrowheads - the nearest thing to obsidian) up to his death.
The Pawnee made some arrow points from sheet brass or old brass containers brought by settlers.
The Lakota and other Plains tribes used barrel hoops or the support hoops from wagons to make iron points, using hacksaws and files obtained in trade.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
How do Native Americans make obsidian arrowheads?
As the name implies, they're made of obsidian. A form of glass produced by volcanic action or exposure of sand to a very intense heat source. The arrowheads are flaked in the same manner as a flint arrowhead but tend to be much sharper and more brittle and prone to damage.
Did the native Americans have rope?
they made it
What is one example of a way that native Americans modified their environment?
things made by native americans that helped them adapt to their environments
Why did the Native Americans go to Europe?
Native Americans never went to Europe. Some individuals made a visit, but the population of Native Americans never went to Europe.
The governor who made the treaty between pilgrims and native Americans?
John Carver was the governor that made the treaty between the pilgrims and the native Americans
Where do arrowhead rocks come from?
Arrowheads (from Native Americans) are made out of a rock called flint. It is a tough, slick rock and when shaped and cut, can be fatally sharp.
What kind of fossil is a arrowhead made thousands of year ago?
Arrowheads are not fossils, they were made by the Native Americans to use on the tips of their arrows.
How do Native Americans make obsidian arrowheads?
As the name implies, they're made of obsidian. A form of glass produced by volcanic action or exposure of sand to a very intense heat source. The arrowheads are flaked in the same manner as a flint arrowhead but tend to be much sharper and more brittle and prone to damage.
What did the Spanish do to captured Native Americans?
Sometimes the Spanish made captured native Americans into slaves
Did the native Americans have rope?
they made it
Who made the dream?
The dream-catcher was made from Native Americans. The Native Americans said it would keep away bad dreams.
What is one example of a way that native Americans modified their environment?
things made by native americans that helped them adapt to their environments
How did the native Americans learn sign language?
The Native Americans made up there own sign language
Who made the dreams cather?
The dream-catcher was made from Native Americans. The Native Americans said it would keep away bad dreams.
Why did the Native Americans go to Europe?
Native Americans never went to Europe. Some individuals made a visit, but the population of Native Americans never went to Europe.
What did the native Americans do with roots?
they made medicines with them
Who made the sweet potato?
the native americans:)
