Frequently Asked Questions

Look for evidence the piece has genuine age: patina and mineral staining that flow continuously across the flake scars (not fresh, glossy scars cutting through an aged surface), edge wear concentrated where a working tool would actually wear, materials consistent with the find region, and — for purchases — a documented ownership history. No single sign is conclusive, and skilled modern knappers can fake several at once, which is why layered screening matters. Our article on how arrowheads are actually authenticated walks through the full examination stack, and a free Quick Check gives you an evidence-based read from photos in about a minute.

Type identification comes down to shape: the base, the notching (side, corner, or none), the stem, and overall proportions, matched against documented type ranges for your region. Our free type identification guides cover 50 of the most commonly found North American points—Clovis, Folsom, Dalton, Kirk, Adena, and more—with the diagnostic traits for each. Or upload a photo to a free Quick Check and our shape-matching engine will rank the closest matches from 1,000+ documented types.

Age follows from type. Stone points can't be dated directly from a photo, but each documented type has a known time window from excavated, radiocarbon-dated sites—identify the type and you have the age range. Paleo points like Clovis run roughly 13,000+ years old; Archaic forms span roughly 10,000–3,000 years ago; small triangular arrow points like Madison are often under 1,000 years old. Each of our type guides lists the accepted date range for that type.

Professional authenticators work through a consistent stack: material sourcing (is the stone right for the region?), typology consistency, surface chemistry (patina and mineralization that formed after the flaking), flaking technology (antler and stone tools leave different signatures than modern copper), use-wear under magnification, and provenance documentation. Photo-based AI screening automates the first layers of that stack; hands-on examination covers what photos can't. We describe exactly what our system analyzes—and its measured accuracy—on the methodology page.

We use top-tier AI models from Anthropic combined with proprietary shape-matching technology. Our system first isolates your artifact and matches its shape to identify the most likely point type, then performs a detailed AI visual authenticity assessment analyzing flake patterns, edge work, patina, and morphological features.

PointCheck delivers probability-based assessments, not yes/no verdicts. Type identification: on a held-out benchmark against our 1,000+ type library, the correct type appears in the top-15 shape matches about 2 out of 3 times (right shape family about 3 out of 4). Authenticity: on a balanced 168-artifact benchmark (verified authentic vs. documented modern reproductions), overall agreement is about 89% at our decision boundary, and zero reproductions reached the top confidence tier. Results include confidence levels and supporting evidence so you can evaluate the assessment yourself. For high-value artifacts or legal purposes, we always recommend physical examination by a certified authenticator.

Absolutely! Full Analysis reports include a permanent public verification page with a unique URL you can share anywhere. The page displays your assessment results, thumbnails, and a SHA-256 image hash that cryptographically ties the report to your original photos—so viewers know the results haven’t been tampered with.

Email is required so we can deliver your results and to manage the free tier fairly. Your first Quick Check is free with just an email. Your second free check requires a quick email verification (6-digit code). After that, Quick Checks are $2 each. We never sell your email—see our Privacy Policy for details.

Quick Check ($2, first 2 free) gives you a fast assessment with key features, red flags, risk level, and a typology guess—ideal for screening before a purchase. Full Analysis ($15) provides a comprehensive report with a PDF export, permanent public verification page, QR code, and detailed evidence breakdown—designed for sellers and serious collectors.

Yes. By default, your original images are deleted from our servers after analysis—only small thumbnails and a cryptographic hash are retained for the verification page. If you opt in to permanent storage, originals are kept securely in encrypted cloud storage. We never share your images or data with third parties. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service for full details.

No authentication method—AI or human—is 100% accurate from photos alone. PointCheck analyzes visible features like flake scars, patina, edge work, and morphology, but cannot assess weight, balance, or microscopic use-wear. Our results are probabilistic guidance, not guarantees. For high-stakes decisions, combine PointCheck with a hands-on expert evaluation.

For best results: use natural daylight or even lighting, photograph both sides, include a U.S. coin (dime or penny) for scale, use a plain contrasting background, and capture close-ups of any notching, edge work, or surface details. Avoid harsh shadows and blurry photos.

Yes. If you’re unsatisfied with your assessment, contact us within 7 days for a full refund—no questions asked. See our Refund Policy for details.