Arrowheads

About the Sherwood Klapproth Collection
Many farmers in Somers Township have “arrowhead” collections. What makes the Sherwood Klapproth Collection significant and unique is that we know for certain the exact acreage where they were discovered and, by the shapes and styles of the artifacts, we have confirmed evidence that prehistoric Indian cultures of Wisconsin existed here on the Klapproth farm in Berryville and Somers Township.  Sherwood would walk the tilled fields after a rain looking for these artifacts in the sandy soil on the farm located not more than one mile from the Lake Michigan shore.  All were found during the 1950's and 1960's.

The Klapproth Collection ( a partial collection shown here) includes arrowheads and projectile points.  Arrowheads were used with bow and arrows and projectile points were larger and used as an attachment to a shaft or spear.  The arrowheads and projectile points have different shapes and styles.  This does not necessarily identify the Indian tribe but rather helps determine the time period they were used as each culture had their own way of shaping a making projectile points.

With the assistance of Mr. Dan Joyce, MA, RPA, Senior Curator of Exhibits and Collections, Military Historian, and Archaeologist of the Kenosha Museum (2010), the artifacts were inspected, sorted and identified.

For further study of Indians of Wisconsin, I recommend:
"A Guide to Common Prehistoric Projectile Points in Wisconsin"
by Lynne G. Goldstein and Sannie K. Osborn, Copyright 1988 Milwaukee Public Museum.

"Prehistoric Indians of Wisconsin"
by Robert E. Ritzenthaler, Revised by Lynne G. Goldstein, Copyright 1985 Milwaukee Public Museum.

Godar Side-Notched
Middle Archaic Period dates between 6,000 B.C.  -  3,000 B.C.
During the Middle Archaic Period the climate became warmer and drier.  Hardwood and prairie forest borders replaced the boreal forests.  The people of this time relied on deer and small game hunting bu there was more emphasis on plants and nuts. This period also had the presence of Native people chopping wood making dugout canoes and other wooden bowls and implements.



Madison Triangular Projectile Point
Late Woodland Period dated between 1,100 - 400 AD
The Late Woodland Period in Wisconsin was marked by the appearance of the development of the bow and arrow.  People tended to live in small farming complexes and farming was a more stable source of food than hunting and gathering.



Raddatz Side-Notched Projectile Point
Middle Archaic Period 6,000 BC to Late Archaic Period from 3,000 BC - 1,000 BC
Indian people of this period in the southern part of Wisconsin relied on winter deer hunting, spring and summer fishing, and plant resources, especially nuts and seeds. 



Kramer-like Projectile Point
Early to Middle Wood Period dates between 600 BC - 100 BC
During this time in southern Wisconsin, native people tended to build their villages along rivers.  There is some evidence they raised gardens and had an emphasis on the Great Lakes fishing.  Pottery tended to be in the form of heavy pots with pointed bottoms and cordmarked or stamped exteriors.   Pottery was used to store wild plant foods because of the shorter growing season.

Waubesa Contracting Stem Projectile Point
Early Woodland Period dating 1,000 BC - 300 BC
The early Woodland Period was a time of rapid culture change and includes the development of pottery, burial mounds, and cultivated plants.  Native people hunted and fished but plant foods became more important leading to the development of agriculture.

Durst Stemmed Projective Point
Late Archaic Period 3,000 - 1,000 BC to the Early Woodland 1,000 - 300 BC