Every corner of Iowa offers something incredible and unique in terms of natural history, history, art, and archaeology. Tour the state with us to learn more!
Office of the State Archaeologist “Iowa Road Trips” Gallery
Crockery bottom, “STONEW / Ft DODG”; Time Period: Late 19th-early 20th century; Site: 13OA31, Osceola County; Catalog/Accession #: 10097Glass trade bead (microscopic enlargement) Time Period: 1840s-50s Site: 13WN160, Winneshiek County Catalog/Accession #: 12354Serrated bone squash knife Time Period: Mill Creek Site: 13OB4 (Whittrock), O’Brien County Catalog/Accession #: 3-252Spanish coin (microscopic enlargement) Time Period: 1782 Site: 13CW121, Chickasaw County Private collection. OSA call #: AP/360/S/CW121-0001-7Ceramic figurine, “MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN” Time Period: Late 19th-early 20th county Site: 13FN12, Franklin County Catalog/Accession #: 1594Animal effigy on pottery vessel handle; possible deer Time Period: Mill Creek Site: 13BV1 (Chan-ya-ta), Buena Vista County Catalog/Accession #: 762/200Great Oasis vessel rim with running deer Time Period: Great Oasis Site: 13WD88 (Cowen), Woodbury County Catalog/Accession #: 5185.44-50Table Rock point Time Period: Late Archaic Site: 13WB0, Webster County Catalog/Accession #: Wr-35HNutting stone Time Period: Pre-contact Site: 13MN53, Monona County Catalog/Accession #: 7890Harmonica plate Time Period: Early 20th century Site: 13AB23, Audubon County Catalog/Accession #: 23/6551“Eagle and wreath” brass military button Time Period: 1843-1846 Site: 13PK61 (Fort Des Moines No. 2), Polk County Catalog/Accession #: 920-13/9699Projectile points Time Period: Late Paleoindian to Archaic Site: 13PH12, Poweshiek County Catalog/Accession #: 12533/2.2-2.5, 3.1, 4.1, 4.2Corner tang point Time Period: Late Woodland Site: 13BE0, Benton County Catalog/Accession #: Bn-14Necklace or bracelet made of Mexican pesos with Centavo pendant, Time Period: 1942-1948 Site: 13CN111, Clinton County Catalog/Accession #: 1/10477Scrapers Time Period: Woodland Site: 13AD1, Adair County Catalog/Accession #: 52Snyder points and point fragments Time Period: Middle Woodland Site: 13LA12 (Gast Farm), Louisa County Catalog/Accession #: 3437CCobalt blue poison bottle Time Period: Late 19th-early 20th county Site: 13TA39, Taylor County Catalog/Accession #: 6464Lincoln and Johnson presidential campaign button Time Period: 1864 Site: 13WP79, Wapello County Catalog/Accession #: 79-4/439Fish effigy carved from shell Time Period: Glenwood Site: 13ML176 (Wall Ridge), Mills County Catalog/Accession #: 7-6Worked hematite; Time Period: Archaic; Site: 13AN52, Appanoose County; Catalog/Accession #: 31/370052
Videos
Virtual Programs
A presentation and Q&A with the Office of the State Archaeologist (60 min)
Explore the range and diversity of artifacts types in Iowa, from deep time to recent history, and learn about the people these objects tell a story about.