Artifacts part of county’s history

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard

Kirk Wanamaker, shown with part of his collection of arrowheads, called “points” by collectors, will be hosting a Prehistoric American Artifact Show next Saturday, July 19 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Warren County Middle School. (Charles W. Johnson photo)

Local collectors of arrowheads and native American artifacts will have a chance to meet fellow collectors and dealers next Saturday, July 19, at the Prehistoric American Artifacts Show to be held at Warren County Middle School.

The show, sponsored by the Central States Archeology Society, runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature tables of displays from local and regional collectors as well as those who trade and sell the collectible items. Admission is free.

Show host Kirk Wanamaker said while buying, selling and trading authentic prehistoric artifacts will be permitted, a $10 table fee will be charged for any table containing items for sale. All displays are subject to the approval of the show host on the day of the show, and the event has a no fakes allowed policy.

Wanamaker said he is particularly interested in having displays from local collectors and encourages them to attend the show. Table space will be free to Warren County participants.

Collecting prehistoric artifacts isn’t a new pastime. The hobby has been around for a long time, attracting the serious and scientifically oriented archeologist as well as the amateur collector.

Wanamaker, who has collected Indian arrowheads, commonly called “points” by collectors, since he was a child, says the show will offer a wide variety of wares for interested collectors.

“There will be everything from points to axes, possibly people with bead necklaces, a little bit of everything. There will probably be a couple of people there selling frames, possibly books, educational materials, things like that,” he said.

Wanamaker said the artifacts are still quite common around the area though heavily collected over the last half-century or so.

“There’s quite a few,” he said. “After the last 70 or 80 years, there’s still lots of points coming out of the ground.”

Even though it might sound simple, Wanamaker said the hobby isn’t really an easy one to get involved in since hunting the artifacts can demand a heavy investment in time, and eventually money, if one begins buying to fill out a collection.

Wanamaker invites anyone who is interested in prehistoric artifact collecting, or just wants to find out what it’s all about, to attend the show next Saturday. For more information or to reserve a table, call Kirk Wanamaker at 934-3233.