Modern Archaeological & Collector CatalogingMost writing found on arrowheads today is a catalog number or provenance code added by archaeologists or private collectors to keep track of the artifact's history. Archaeological Records: Museums and researchers mark stone tools with unique IDs to link the object to its specific excavation site, depth, and context. Method: While sometimes done with ink, professional curating involves placing a small layer of specialized lacquer (like Acryloid B-72) on the stone first, writing with archival ink, and sealing it, to avoid damaging the stone. Private Collections: Collectors often write the date found, county, and finder's name directly on the piece to ensure this vital information isn't lost if the item is separated from its original box or bag. Identification Systems: Common codes include a museum accession number or a site-specific code (e.g., a three-letter abbreviation for a farm or creek followed by a sequence number In the USA: The Smithsonian Trinomial If the code looks like 41HI134, it follows the Smithsonian Trinomial System: 41 (State Number): Each state has a 2-digit number (e.g., 41 is Texas, 20 is Michigan).HI (County Code): A 2-letter abbreviation for the county (e.g., HI is Hill County).134 (Site Number): The sequential number of that specific site within the county In Canada: The Borden System If the code looks like AaBb-11:1234, it uses the Borden System: AaBb (Grid Square): This identifies a specific 16km x 16km area based on latitude and longitude. 11 (Site Number): The 11th site registered within that block. 1234 (Artifact Number): Sometimes added after a colon to identify the specific artifact in the site's catalog Museum Accession NumbersIf the number looks like 2024.05.12, it is likely a museum's internal record: 2024: The year the item was added to the collection.05: The "batch" or collection group it arrived with that year.12: The individual item number within that batch. Private Collector MarkingsMany collectors use their own shorthand (e.g., "7/12/94 Ohio"). These usually only have meaning to the original owner's private log
