Texas Arrowheads .com - Burnet County Buffalo!

A Surprise ending to an Arrowhead hunt in May 2005 in Burnet county, Texas.

While in Burnet county visiting family, my son-in-laws and I set out to do some amateur archaeology on a nearby ranch. We have permission to dig on this private property and had done some previous exploring here. The area we were investigating is located between two small streams about 3 miles from the Colorado river. Like most ranches in this area, arrowheads have been found here for some time while walking the pastures. Because the soil here is generally very thin, containing a large amount of granite gravel, this small area of organically rich soil led us to think that it may be part of a series of campsites located near these springfed creeks.

We start off with high hopes as Travis pauses for a picture.
Quit looking so much like the grim reaper Trav!

We are screening everything. Jason looks carefully to make sure he does't miss one of those tiny gem quality Central Texas arrowpoints. It appears that the small hill behind him is

Unfortunately, this kind of Spring rain can put an end to things pretty quickly.
Having the best life insurance I was quickly elected to carry the metal screen out through the ensuing lightning storm.

After making it out alive we do a little sight seeing over toward Smithwick.
What a surprise to come across this herd of "wild" buffalo on the roadside!

An unexpected surprise like this sure helps make up for a dissapointing rainout.

Can you imagine hunting something like this with sticks and stones?

I guess this just goes to show you never really know what you are going to find.

Before the rains came we found some fire rock indicating use as a burnt rock midden, many flint flakes and some broken Late Prehistoric arrowpoints and late Archaic Ensor type points so we did learn that this site was used during that period. Previously there have also been a Montell, a Nolan and other Archaic types found nearby, indicating that this location was utilized off and on for over 5000 years. It is hard to explain the feeling of kinship one gets when studying ancient people and seeing the same type of buffalo that were so important to them.

Hope you enjoy these photos half as much as I enjoyed the "unsuccessful" arrowhead hunt!

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