I grew up in Ronks, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania. The properties at North Ronks Road and North Cherry Lane had been owned by the Miller family for several generations. Miller's Greenhouses was on the site behind the houses. Behind that was a field often gardened by the families. Every year as the field was gardened, we turned up arrowheads, axheads, and other odd rocks. Since the families have scattered, I have no idea what became of these treasures. What I have is a small collection kept by my grandmother, Marian Miller.

A few years ago, I took the collection to show one of the curators at the North Museum in Lancasster, PA. She told me that these were actually spear heads, not arrowheads, and that they were used with an atlatl for projection. An atlatl is a throwing device usually consisting of a stick fitted with a thong or socket to steady the butt of a spear or dart and extend the length it travels. The spear heads are obviously made of quartz. I thought this was unusual, but she told me it was common for this area and that the Indians used whatever was available.

Also surprising, is that these did not come from the well known Indians of Lancaster Co., PA: Delaware, Conestoga, Susquehannock, or Iroquois Indians. Rather, they were Archaic peoples dating 3000 to 5000 years old! The large amount of items found, and the location close to a spring at Cherry Lane and a creek at South Ronks Road, points to the conclusion that this was once a settlement.

Since then, the properties have been sold and the new owners built 4 or 5 houses on the site.

Click for larger image

Below, find maps that identify the area.

Below, find a map of Ronks, PA. The black star marks the location.

Below, find a map of the area surrounded by N. Ronks Rd., N. Cherry Lane, and Rt. 30 East.
The yellow star marks the field and the black buildings mark where the buildings were located before the 1980s.

For further information on the Archaic Indian time period at the PA Historical and Museum Commission