Lithic Artifact Value & Price Guide

Lithic artifacts represent the enduring stone tools and projectile points crafted by prehistoric cultures across millennia. These collectibles, ranging from delicate obsidian flakes to robust Dalton points, offer a tangible connection to ancient craftsmanship and survival strategies.

Price Range: $73 - $79 based on recent sales

History of Lithic Artifact

The history of lithic technology spans the vast majority of human existence, beginning with the earliest Oldowan pebble tools and evolving into the sophisticated pressure-flaked points of the Paleo-Indian and Archaic periods. In North America, types like the Dalton and Thebes points represent peak efficiency in stone tool design, serving as both lethal hunting implements and versatile domestic knives for early nomadic groups. As cultures transitioned through the Woodland and Mississippian periods, lithic styles shifted in response to the introduction of the bow and arrow and changing social structures. Collectors today value these items not just as artistic objects, but as archaeological records of the technological leaps made by ancient civilizations between 8500 BCE and the early contact era.

Value Factors for Lithic Artifact

The typical price range for Lithic Artifact is $73 - $79 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Typology and Rarity: Specific rare forms like the Dalton or Lost Lake points command higher prices than common utilitarian flakes.
• Material Quality: High-quality lithics made from exotic materials like colorful flint, translucent obsidian, or rare quartz are highly prized.
• Flaking Technique: The precision and symmetry of the percussion or pressure flaking significantly impact the aesthetic and market value.
• Condition and Completeness: Points with intact tips, bases, and sharp serrations are valued much higher than broken or heavily weathered specimens.

Tips for Buying Lithic Artifact

• Verify the authenticity of the knapping patterns to ensure the piece is an ancient artifact rather than a modern reproduction.
• Examine the edges for signs of prehistoric use-wear or ancient re-sharpening, which can distinguish genuine tools from debitage.
• Prioritize specimens with documented provenance or 'find site' data, as geographical context significantly enhances historical value.
• Check for material-specific traits, such as the translucent quality of high-grade obsidian or the distinct patina found on aged chert and flint.

Items in This Collection

• Lost Lake Arrowhead
• Etley Projectile Point
• Benton Arrowhead
• Thebes Projectile Point
• Adena Point Arrowhead
• Adena Point Value & Price Guide
• Dalton Arrowhead
• Lithic Flake
• Obsidian Tool Value & Price Guide
• Obsidian Arrowheads
• Lost Lake Projectile Point
• Gary Projectile Point
• Pickwick Projectile Point
• Dalton Point Value & Price Guide