Digging Up Success: Your Complete Stardew Valley Artifacts Treasure Map

Digging Up Success: Your Complete Stardew Valley Artifacts Treasure Map

Can’t find that elusive Ancient Sword? Wondering why artifact spots seem to have vanished after the 1.6 update? Stuck with just one missing piece to complete your museum? You’re in the right place. This artifact hunter’s bible covers everything from basic worm-spotting to advanced prediction tools, with custom strategies for every stage of your Stardew Valley journey. Jump straight to the daily artifact hunting route if you’re in a hurry, or settle in for the complete museum-filling masterclass.

After combing through the latest patch notes, interviewing veteran collectors, and testing locations across hundreds of in-game days, I’ve mapped out the definitive resource for finding all 42 artifacts in Stardew Valley. The 1.6 update significantly changed how artifacts spawn, so even veteran farmers will find new strategies here to adapt to the post-update world.

Artifact Basics: The What, Why, and Where

Artifacts in Stardew Valley aren’t just museum curiosities – they’re the key to unlocking rewards, completing special quests, and even making certain villagers swoon. Let’s start with the fundamentals before diving into advanced strategies.

The Complete 42 Artifacts Catalog

There are exactly 42 artifacts to collect in Stardew Valley, each with unique acquisition methods and uses beyond museum donations. Here’s the complete catalog with rarity ratings (on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the rarest):

Artifact	Rarity	Primary Locations	Secondary Sources	Special Uses
Amphibian Fossil	3	Forest, Mountain	Fishing Treasure	Bone Mill
Ancient Doll	3	Pelican Town, Forest	Fishing Treasure	Loved gift for Jas
Ancient Drum	3	Desert	Artifact Troves	Museum only
Ancient Seed	4	Forest	Fishing, Bug Killing	Craftable into Ancient Seeds pack
Ancient Sword	5	Mountain, Forest	Artifact Troves	Fish tank decoration
Anchor	2	Beach	Fishing Treasure	Fish tank decoration
Arrowhead	2	Mountain, Forest	Artifact Troves	Museum only
Bone Flute	4	Forest	Artifact Troves	Liked gift for Abigail
Chicken Statue	2	Pelican Town	N/A	Museum only
Chipped Amphora	3	Pelican Town, Beach	N/A	Museum only
Clay Bowl	2	Pelican Town	N/A	Museum only
Dinosaur Egg	5	Mountain, Skull Cavern	Pepper Rex drops	Incubator, Mayonnaise
Dried Starfish	2	Beach	N/A	Fish pond quests
Dwarf Gadget	4	Mines floors 41-80	N/A	Farm Computer crafting
Dwarf Scroll I	2	Mines floors 1-40	Dirt in mines, Dust Sprites	Dwarf friendship
Dwarf Scroll II	2	Mines floors 41-80	Dirt in mines	Dwarf friendship
Dwarf Scroll III	3	Mines floors 81-120	Dirt in mines, Blue Slimes	Fish pond quests, Dwarf friendship
Dwarf Scroll IV	4	Any monster	N/A	Dwarf friendship
Dwarvish Helm	4	Mines floors 1-120	N/A	Museum only
Elvish Jewelry	4	Forest	Artifact Troves	Museum only
Glass Shards	1	Beach	N/A	Museum only
Golden Mask	4	Desert	Artifact Troves	Museum only
Golden Relic	4	Desert	Artifact Troves	Fish pond quests
Prehistoric Handaxe	3	Mountain, Forest	Artifact Troves	Museum only
Prehistoric Rib	3	Town, Beach	Artifact Troves	Bone Mill
Prehistoric Scapula	3	Farm, Bus Stop	Artifact Troves	Bone Mill
Prehistoric Skull	3	Mountain	Artifact Troves	Bone Mill
Prehistoric Tibia	3	Bus Stop, Railroad	Artifact Troves	Cool hat tailoring
Prehistoric Tool	3	Bus Stop	Artifact Troves	Museum only
Prehistoric Vertebra	3	Forest, Mountain	Artifact Troves	Bone Mill
Palm Fossil	3	Desert, Beach	Artifact Troves	Bone Mill
Portrait Of Mona	2	Beach	N/A	Museum only
Rare Disc	4	Mines floors 21-120	N/A	Museum only
Rusty Cog	2	Mountain, Town	N/A	Museum only
Rusty Spoon	1	Town	N/A	Raccoon request
Rusty Spur	1	Farm, Mountain	N/A	Museum only
Skeletal Hand	3	Desert	Artifact Troves	Museum only
Skeletal Tail	4	Desert	Artifact Troves	Museum only
Skeleton Mask	3	Desert	Artifact Troves	Museum only
Strange Doll (green)	5	Random dig spots	Secret Note #18	Loved gift for Jas
Strange Doll (yellow)	5	Random dig spots	Secret Note #19	Loved gift for Jas
Trilobite	2	Beach, Mountain	N/A	Bone Mill

A quick note on terminology: When I refer to “artifact spots,” I’m talking about those little wiggling worm-like animations you’ll see on the ground throughout Stardew Valley. These are sometimes called “worm tiles” or “stem spots” by players. They’re your primary source for artifacts and require a hoe to dig up.

Artifact Spots Explained: Spotting Wiggly Worms

Artifact spots are those small wiggling animations that appear on tillable ground throughout Stardew Valley. Here’s what you need to know about them:

Visual Identification: They look like small wiggling worms or twigs on the ground. They’re subtle but noticeable once you know what to look for, especially if you zoom your view out a bit. In winter, they stand out more against the snow.

Required Tool: You can only dig up artifact spots with a hoe. No other tool will work, so always carry your hoe when exploring.

Spawn Mechanics:

• Up to 16 artifact spots can exist in a given area at once
• They’re significantly more common in Winter (approximately 3-4x more frequent)
• The 1.6 update changed their spawning from pattern-based to truly random
• Artifact spots are fixed for a given day – if you reload, the same spots will be there
• Using a Treasure Totem will generate artifact spots in your current area

Contents Determination:
When you dig up an artifact spot, the game checks for possible items in this order:

1. Lost Book (20-32% chance, not possible on the farm)
2. Artifact (location-dependent)
3. Winter root or Snow Yam (Winter only, 28-50% chance)
4. Qi Beans (During Qi’s Crop quest only, 25% chance)
5. Clay, Stone, ore, or other resources

Post-1.6, many players have reported fewer artifact spots spawning. This is partly due to the randomization changes and not a guaranteed pattern as before. While the official spawn rate hasn’t been changed in the patch notes, the new randomization system makes them feel less common.

Pro Tip: The Archaeologist profession (level 10 Farming) doubles your chance of finding artifacts from artifact spots. It’s worth respeccing into this profession temporarily when you’re actively hunting for artifacts.

Prime Hunting Grounds By Region

Not all locations are created equal when it comes to artifact hunting. Each region has its own pool of possible artifacts. Here’s a breakdown of where to focus your efforts for specific artifacts:

Beach:

• Anchor
• Chipped Amphora
• Dried Starfish
• Glass Shards
• Portrait Of Mona
• Prehistoric Rib
• Trilobite
• Palm Fossil (rare)

Forest (Cindersap):

• Amphibian Fossil
• Ancient Doll
• Ancient Seed
• Ancient Sword (rare)
• Arrowhead
• Bone Flute
• Elvish Jewelry
• Prehistoric Vertebra

Mountain:

• Ancient Sword (best chance)
• Arrowhead
• Dinosaur Egg (rare)
• Prehistoric Handaxe
• Prehistoric Skull
• Prehistoric Vertebra
• Rusty Cog
• Rusty Spur
• Trilobite

Pelican Town:

• Ancient Doll
• Chicken Statue
• Chipped Amphora
• Clay Bowl
• Prehistoric Rib
• Rusty Cog
• Rusty Spoon

Farm:

• Prehistoric Scapula
• Rusty Spur
• Note: No Lost Books spawn on the farm

Bus Stop/Railroad:

• Prehistoric Scapula
• Prehistoric Tibia
• Prehistoric Tool

Desert (unlocked after Bus Repair):

• Ancient Drum
• Golden Mask
• Golden Relic
• Palm Fossil
• Skeletal Hand
• Skeletal Tail
• Skeleton Mask

Inside Mines (no visible artifact spots, use hoe on dirt):

• Dwarf Scrolls I-III
• Dwarf Gadget
• Dwarvish Helm
• Rare Disc

The Mountains and Cindersap Forest are generally the most productive regions for artifact hunting, offering the widest variety of artifacts including some of the rarer ones like the Ancient Sword. The Beach is excellent for beginners as it has several easy-to-find artifacts. The Desert contains unique artifacts but is only accessible after completing the Vault bundles in the Community Center.

Daily Priority Route: If you’re short on time, focus on checking the Mountain area, then Cindersap Forest, then the Beach. This route gives you the best odds of finding a variety of artifacts while covering the locations with the highest spot spawn rates.

Artifact Hunting Post-1.6: What Changed

The 1.6 update significantly altered how artifact hunting works in Stardew Valley. These changes affect both how artifacts spawn and how your collection is tracked.

New Randomization System vs. Old Patterns

Prior to the 1.6 update, many systems in Stardew Valley weren’t truly random but followed predictable patterns. This allowed players to:

• Farm clay by hoeing in specific patterns
• Predict which artifacts would appear in which locations on specific days
• Use the game’s pseudorandomness to efficiently find artifacts

The 1.6 update changed this system to make things truly random. From the patch notes: “Randomization no longer produces simple repeating patterns in many cases (i.e., clay farming, mushroom level prediction, crab pot fish offset, etc).”

How This Affects You:

• Artifact spots now spawn in genuinely random locations each day
• The old “clay farming” method no longer works reliably
• You can’t predict where artifacts will spawn with the same accuracy

Legacy Option Available: For speedrunners or those who prefer the old system, ConcernedApe added an option to switch back to “legacy randomization” in the advanced options menu. However, some patterns may still change due to underlying updates.

Community Response: Many players have reported seeing fewer artifact spots after the update. While the official spawn rate hasn’t been changed according to patch notes, the new randomization makes them less predictable and can make them feel rarer. Comments from Reddit confirm this experience:

“I struggled a lot with clay to get my first silo, but I’m not sure if it’s because I was genuinely getting less clay or if I’ve not paid attention in the past because I wasn’t trying to get a silo as early?” - Reddit user

“I’m also not finding hardly any artifact spots. I think I’ve gotten 3 and I’m mid-spring.” - Another player

The good news is that fishing treasure chests seem to yield more artifacts than before, providing an alternative acquisition method.

Collection Tab and Museum Requirements Updates

The 1.6.9 update (December 2024) made an important change to how artifacts are tracked in your collection tab:

“The collections tab now shows artifacts, gems, and minerals once they’re donated to the museum (not as soon as you find it).”

Previously, artifacts would appear in your collection tab as soon as you found them, regardless of whether you donated them to the museum. Now, they only count toward your collection once they’ve been donated.

Why This Matters:

• You need to actually donate artifacts to complete your collection tab now
• Finding an artifact but selling or losing it before donation won’t count
• This encourages proper museum completion

This change aligns artifacts with the other collection categories and provides more incentive to complete the museum collection properly.

Seasonal Spawn Rate Changes

While artifact spots appear year-round, their frequency varies dramatically by season:

Season	Relative Spawn Rate	Special Notes
Spring	Base rate	Standard artifact distribution
Summer	Base rate	Standard artifact distribution
Fall	Base rate	Standard artifact distribution
Winter	3-4x base rate	Also spawn Winter Root and Snow Yam

Winter Advantage: Winter is by far the best season for artifact hunting. Not only do spots appear much more frequently, but they’re also more visible against the snow. If you’re serious about completing your museum collection, make artifact hunting a daily priority during winter.

In Winter, artifact spots have a 28-50% chance of dropping Winter Roots or Snow Yams (Winter Root is 50% more likely). While these aren’t artifacts, they’re valuable for cooking and crafting.

1.6 Special Note: Some players have reported that the winter boost doesn’t feel as significant post-1.6. This may be due to the new randomization system rather than an intentional change, as it’s not mentioned in the patch notes.

Your Day-by-Day Artifact Hunting Strategy

Efficient artifact hunting requires different approaches depending on your game progress. Let’s break down strategies for each stage of the game.

Early Game Route Optimization (Year 1, Spring)

In the early game, your resources, energy, and time are limited. Focus on efficient artifact hunting while balancing other priorities:

Equipment Needed:

• Basic Hoe (no upgrades necessary initially)
• Watering Can (for your crops before leaving the farm)
• Fishing Rod (to get treasure chests as a secondary source)

Daily Schedule:

1. 6:00 AM - Water crops and tend to farm essentials
2. 7:30 AM - Begin artifact route
3. 8:00-11:00 AM - Cover priority locations
4. 11:00 AM - Adjust activities based on finds
5. Return home by midnight

Priority Route Map:

• Farm → Bus Stop → Mountain (including lake area and Adventurer’s Guild) → Pelican Town → Beach → Cindersap Forest

This route can be completed in about 3-4 in-game hours if you run and don’t stop to chat with villagers. Focus on covering ground efficiently rather than being thorough in each area.

Early Game Tips:

• Always check artifact spots even if you’re focusing on other tasks that day
• Donate your first find of each artifact to the museum immediately
• Keep Dinosaur Eggs for incubation rather than donation
• Keep Ancient Seeds to craft into plantable seeds
• Fishing treasure chests are an excellent supplementary source of artifacts
• Save any Omni Geodes until you have access to the Desert trader for Artifact Troves

Expected Progress: By the end of Spring Year 1, you should have found approximately 8-12 different artifacts if you’re diligent about checking spots daily. Don’t be discouraged if you find duplicates-they can be sold or saved for specific uses.

Mid-Game Collection Acceleration (Year 1, Summer-Winter)

By mid-game, you’ll have more resources, possibly tool upgrades, and access to more areas. This is when you can accelerate your collection:

Equipment Upgrades:

• Copper/Steel Hoe (covers more tiles per swing)
• Horse (faster travel between locations)
• Iridium fishing rod with Treasure Hunter tackle (more treasure chests)
• Access to the mines (for Dwarf Scrolls and other artifacts)

Daily Schedule:

1. Check the TV for luck before starting your day
2. On high-luck days, prioritize mining and fishing for artifacts
3. On regular/bad luck days, focus on the artifact spot route
4. Dedicate at least 2 game hours daily to artifact hunting

Expanded Route:

• Include the Railroad area once it’s accessible
• Explore deep into the Mines for scrolls and rare artifacts
• Add the Desert to your route once the bus is repaired
• Use a Treasure Totem in high-value areas like the Mountain

Artifact Trove Strategy:
Once you have access to the Desert, you can trade Omni Geodes for Artifact Troves with the Desert Trader (on Tuesdays). Each Artifact Trove has a chance to contain an artifact you’re missing, making this an excellent targeted approach.

Fish Pond Strategy:
Some fish ponds request specific artifacts for completion. If you have the following, consider keeping them:

• Dwarf Scroll III (Lava Eel)
• Dried Starfish (Rainbow Trout, Spook Fish, Super Cucumber)
• Golden Relic (certain fish)

Winter Focus: Remember that Winter offers significantly more artifact spots. Plan your Winter days to maximize artifact hunting time.

Expected Progress: By the end of Year 1, you should have found at least 25-30 different artifacts if you’re following this strategy consistently.

Late-Game Completion Tactics (Year 2+)

By late game, you’re likely missing just a few stubborn artifacts. This is when targeted approaches become necessary:

Advanced Equipment:

• Iridium Hoe (maximum coverage)
• Return Scepter (instant transport home)
• Desert/Farm/Mountain Warp Totems (quick travel)
• Archaeologist profession (if focused on completion)

Targeted Hunting:

1. Identify your missing artifacts and their specific locations
2. Focus exclusively on those locations with high-intensity coverage
3. Use the Stardew Predictor tool (for PC players) to determine when specific artifacts will appear
4. Consider temporary use of skippable days if hunting for extremely rare artifacts

Skull Cavern Strategy:
Deep Skull Cavern runs (with lots of bombs and staircases) can yield Dinosaur Eggs from Pepper Rex encounters, which are one of the rarer artifacts.

Museum Completion Rewards:
As you near completion, you’ll receive better rewards from Gunther, including:

• Ancient Seeds (at 15 artifacts donated)
• Rusty Key (at 60 items donated, combines artifacts and minerals)
• Stardew Hero Trophy (museum completion)

The Final Stretch:
For those last few artifacts, dedicate entire in-game days to hunting. Use Treasure Totems, focus on high-luck days, and consider the following specialized approaches:

• For Dwarf Scrolls: Dedicate days to mining and killing specific monsters
• For Ancient Sword: Check Mountain and Forest artifact spots daily
• For Prehistoric artifacts: Cover all potential spawn regions systematically
• For Desert artifacts: Use Desert Warp Totems to maximize hunting time there

Expected Timeline: Most players can complete their artifact collection by the end of Year 2 with dedicated effort. Some particularly unlucky players might need until Year 3 for those final few pieces.

Beyond the Worms: Alternative Artifact Sources

While artifact spots are your primary source, several alternative methods can accelerate your collection:

Mining and Hoeing Dirt in Caves

The Mines and Skull Cavern contain valuable artifacts that can’t be found from regular artifact spots:

Mine Floors and Their Artifacts:

• Floors 1-40: Dwarf Scroll I
• Floors 41-80: Dwarf Scroll II, Dwarf Gadget
• Floors 81-120: Dwarf Scroll III
• All floors: Dwarf Scroll IV (from monsters), Dwarvish Helm, Rare Disc

Hoeing Strategy:
Unlike surface artifact spots, dirt in the mines doesn’t show wiggly worms. You’ll need to hoe any tillable dirt patches you find. These appear as slightly darker patches on the floor.

Best Floors:

• Floors 15-25 are excellent for Dwarf Scroll I
• Floors 55-65 are good for Dwarf Scroll II
• Floors 95-115 are best for Dwarf Scroll III
• Floors with lots of dirt patches are generally better than rock-heavy floors

Monster Drops:
Certain monsters have higher chances of dropping specific artifacts:

• Dust Sprites (floors 41-79): Dwarf Scroll I, II
• Blue Slimes (floors 81-120): Dwarf Scroll III
• Any Monster (rare): Dwarf Scroll IV

Skull Cavern Special:

• Pepper Rex: Has a chance to drop Dinosaur Eggs
• Bone Nodes: Can yield various prehistoric bones and fossils

Pro Tip: Take advantage of “good luck” days for mining artifacts. Luck affects both monster drops and the chance of finding artifacts when hoeing dirt.

Fishing Treasure Chest Strategies

Fishing treasure chests are an excellent secondary source for artifacts, especially after the 1.6 update which seems to have increased their artifact drop rate:

Optimal Setup:

• Iridium Rod
• Treasure Hunter tackle (+33% treasure chance)
• Magnet bait (further increases treasure chance)
• Fishing level 10 with Pirate profession (doubles treasure chance)
• Lucky lunch or other luck-boosting food

Best Fishing Locations for Artifacts:

• Mountain Lake
• Cindersap Forest pond
• Ocean at the Beach

Technique:

1. Cast in spots where the fishing bar doesn’t move too quickly
2. When you hook a fish, focus on keeping the bar green
3. When a treasure appears, try to keep the bar green while also hitting the treasure
4. If you need to choose between catching the fish or the treasure, prioritize the treasure

Treasure Contents:
Fishing chests can contain most artifacts except for those exclusive to the mines. They’re particularly good for finding:

• Ancient Doll
• Ancient Seed
• Anchor
• Arrowhead
• Dinosaur Egg
• Prehistoric Bone artifacts

Time Efficiency:
On a good luck day with the right setup, you can expect a treasure chest in approximately 1 in 3 catches, with an artifact appearing in roughly 1 in 5 chests. This makes fishing a highly time-efficient artifact hunting method, especially since you also earn fishing income.

Geodes and Artifact Troves Mastery

Geodes and Artifact Troves provide a targeted approach to finding specific artifacts:

Geode Types and Processing:

• Regular Geodes: Lowest artifact chance
• Frozen Geodes: Moderate artifact chance
• Magma Geodes: Good artifact chance
• Omni Geodes: Best overall artifact chance
• Artifact Troves: 100% artifact chance, but specific to the artifact pool

Clint vs. Geode Crusher:

• Clint charges 25g per geode processed
• Geode Crusher requires no gold but consumes time
• After 1.6, Geode Crusher no longer requires coal to operate

Artifact Trove Strategy:

1. Collect Omni Geodes from the mines and Skull Cavern
2. Visit the Desert Trader on Tuesdays to exchange 5 Omni Geodes for 1 Artifact Trove
3. Process Artifact Troves with Clint or the Geode Crusher

Artifact Troves Contents:
Artifact Troves can contain most artifacts in the game except for those exclusive to the mines and a few other exceptions. They’re particularly valuable for finding:

• Ancient Drum
• Bone Flute
• Elvish Jewelry
• Golden Mask
• Golden Relic
• Prehistoric artifacts
• Skeletal artifacts

The Stardew Predictor (covered in more detail later) is especially useful for optimizing your Artifact Trove strategy, as it can tell you exactly which troves will contain which artifacts.

Your Artifact Decision Guide: Keep, Gift, or Sell?

Once you’ve found artifacts, you need to decide what to do with them:

Museum Donation Priority System

Your first goal should be museum completion for the rewards. Here’s a priority system for donations:

Tier 1 (Donate First):

• Ancient Seed (for the craftable seed packet reward)
• Artifacts needed for immediate crafting or use (like Dwarf Gadget)
• Common artifacts you’ll likely find again soon

Tier 2 (Evaluate Before Donating):

• Dinosaur Egg (incubate first, donate extras)
• Artifacts needed for fish pond quests you’re actively pursuing
• Artifacts particularly loved as gifts by villagers you’re befriending

Tier 3 (Potentially Hold):

• Extremely rare artifacts when you’re uncertain if you’ll find them again
• Artifacts with specific uses beyond the museum

When in doubt, donate. Most artifacts can be found again, and the museum rewards are substantial:

Key Museum Donation Milestones:

• 15 artifacts: Ancient Seeds
• 20 artifacts: Rusty Key (access to the Sewers)
• 40 artifacts: Stardew Valley Hero Trophy

Pro Tip: You can check which artifacts you’ve already donated by looking for the small red owl icon in your inventory when holding an artifact.

Special Use Artifacts You Should Never Sell

Some artifacts have important uses beyond museum donations. Consider keeping these until their purpose is fulfilled:

Dinosaur Egg:

• Place in an incubator to hatch a Dinosaur
• Dinosaurs produce more eggs, ensuring a renewable supply
• After hatching one, donate your next egg to the museum

Ancient Seed:

• Donate to get the Ancient Seeds packet recipe
• Craft additional Ancient Seeds from any you find later
• Plant for Ancient Fruit, one of the most profitable crops

Dwarf Scroll I-IV:

• Required to understand the Dwarf language
• Donate all four to understand Dwarf dialogue
• Keep extras of Dwarf Scroll III for Lava Eel fish ponds

Artifacts Required for Fish Ponds:

• Dried Starfish: Rainbow Trout, Spook Fish, Super Cucumber ponds
• Dwarf Scroll III: Lava Eel ponds
• Basalt (mineral, not artifact): Lava Eel ponds
• Golden Relic: Some fish ponds

Dwarf Gadget:

• Required to craft the Farm Computer
• Donate one, keep a second if found

Rusty Spoon:

• May be requested by the Raccoon (1.6 addition)

Ancient Sword and Anchor:

• Can be placed in Fish Tanks as decorations

Villager Gifting Chart

Some villagers have preferences for specific artifacts. Here’s a quick reference:

Loved Gifts (Best Response):

• Jas: Ancient Doll, Strange Doll (green), Strange Doll (yellow)

Liked Gifts (Good Response):

• Abigail: Ancient Sword, Bone Flute
• Alex: Dinosaur Egg
• Demetrius: Dinosaur Egg
• Dwarf: All artifacts
• Maru: Dwarf Gadget
• Penny: All artifacts

Neutral Gifts (No Special Response):

• All other villagers with all other artifacts

Pro Tip: If you’re specifically working on relationships, most villagers prefer items other than artifacts. Only use artifacts as gifts when they’re specifically liked or loved, or when you have extras after museum donation.

When to Sell Artifacts

After donating to the museum and accounting for special uses, you may want to sell duplicate artifacts:

Highest Value Artifacts (Worth Selling):

• Dinosaur Egg: 350g
• Dwarf Gadget: 200g
• Ancient Sword: 100g
• Elvish Jewelry: 150g
• Golden Mask: 500g

Low Value Artifacts (Consider Keeping for Specific Uses):

• Rusty Spoon: 25g
• Clay Bowl: 30g
• Chicken Statue: 50g

Selling Strategy:

1. Donate first artifact to the museum
2. Reserve artifacts needed for special purposes
3. Consider gifting to appropriate villagers
4. Keep 1-2 extras of rare artifacts in storage
5. Sell remaining duplicates

Remember that artifacts generally don’t have high sell values compared to crops or artisan goods. Their primary value is in completing the museum collection and their special uses.

Troubleshooting Your Collection

Even with the best strategies, artifact hunting can sometimes be frustrating. Let’s address the most common problems:

“I Can’t Find Any Artifact Spots!”

After the 1.6 update, many players reported seeing fewer artifact spots. If you’re experiencing this:

Possible Solutions:

1. Check different areas: Spots may be concentrated in areas you haven’t visited
2. Visit during Winter: Spots are significantly more common in winter
3. Use Treasure Totems: Guarantees spots in your current area
4. Adjust zoom level: Spots are easier to see when zoomed out
5. Check daily: Spots reset each day, so check regularly
6. Consider legacy randomization: If you’re really struggling, the legacy option in advanced settings might help

From Reddit discussions:

“I’ve been running around the entire map for days and not finding a single dig spot, not even the carrot ones!”

“I came to see if anyone else was talking about this! I’ve been running around the entire map for days and not finding a single dig spot, not even the carrot ones!”

If you’re playing with mods, verify they’re compatible with the 1.6 update. Some mods might interfere with artifact spot generation.

Finding That One Missing Artifact

When you’re down to your last few artifacts, targeted strategies are key:

For PC Players - Use Stardew Predictor:

1. Upload your save file to the Stardew Predictor tool
2. Check which upcoming geodes/artifact troves will contain your missing artifact
3. Follow the prediction to guarantee finding the artifact

For All Players - Systematic Approach:

1. Identify exactly which artifact you’re missing and its possible locations
2. Focus exclusively on those locations
3. Use Luck-boosting food on days with good luck
4. Try alternative acquisition methods (fishing, mines, artifact troves)

Example: Ancient Sword Strategy
If you’re missing the Ancient Sword:

1. Focus on Mountain and Forest artifact spots
2. Fish in the mountain lake for treasure chests
3. Process Artifact Troves (which can contain the Ancient Sword)
4. Check daily during Winter when spots are more common

Example: Dwarf Scroll IV Strategy
If you’re missing Dwarf Scroll IV:

1. Spend days killing a wide variety of monsters in the mines
2. Focus on deeper mine levels with more diverse monster types
3. Use monster-attracting food like Monster Musk

When All Else Fails - Time Skip Strategy:
For extremely rare artifacts, sometimes the most efficient approach is to:

1. Handle essential farm maintenance early in the day
2. Check key artifact locations
3. If unsuccessful, sleep to advance to the next day
4. Repeat until you find your target

This isn’t the most engaging gameplay, but it can be effective for stubborn artifacts.

Why Isn’t My Collection Tab Updating?

As of the 1.6.9 update (December 2024), the artifact collection tab works differently:

New System:

• Artifacts only appear in your collection tab AFTER you donate them to the museum
• Simply finding an artifact no longer adds it to your collection
• This change was made to align with the other collection categories

If you’ve found artifacts but they’re not showing in your collection:

1. Check if you’ve donated them to the museum
2. Donate any undated artifacts to see them appear in your collection
3. Visit the museum to confirm your donations were registered

This change wasn’t initially documented in the main 1.6 update notes but was included in the 1.6.9 patch notes:

“The collections tab now shows artifacts, gems, and minerals once they’re donated to the museum (not as soon as you find it).”

Power Tools for Serious Collectors

When standard strategies aren’t enough, these specialized tools can help complete your collection:

Using the Stardew Predictor Tool

This online tool is invaluable for PC players trying to find specific artifacts:

What It Does:

• Analyzes your save file to predict future random events
• Shows exactly which artifacts will come from which geodes/troves
• Reveals where artifact spots will appear and what they’ll contain
• Works for fishing treasure chests and other random events

How to Use It:

1. Go to https://mouseypounds.github.io/stardew-predictor/
2. Upload your save file (typically found in %AppData%\StardewValley\Saves)
3. Navigate to the “Geodes” tab to see predictions
4. Note how many geodes you need to open before your target artifact appears

Shared Counter Mechanics:
One key insight from the Stardew Predictor is that all geodes and artifact troves share a counter. For example:

“If the ancient sword is, say, 87 troves from your current state, you can just open 86 geodes of any type, and then the next artifact trove will have it.”

This makes the tool extremely powerful for targeted artifact hunting.

Limitations:

• Only works on PC (not console or mobile)
• Requires uploading your save file
• May be considered “cheating” by some players
• Legacy vs. new randomization affects predictions

Recommended Mods for Artifact Hunters

If you’re playing on PC and open to mods, these can significantly improve the artifact hunting experience:

UI Info Suite:

• Shows artifact spots on the map
• Displays which artifacts you’ve already donated
• Highlights locations of daily forageable items (including artifact spots)

Artifact Spot Enhancer:

• Increases spawn rate of artifact spots
• Can be configured to avoid feeling overpowered
• Particularly useful after the 1.6 update reduced spot appearances

CJB Cheats Menu (for extreme cases):

• Can spawn specific artifacts if you’re frustrated with RNG
• Useful after extended unsuccessful hunting
• Consider using only for artifacts you’ve hunted for multiple in-game years

Tractor Mod:

• Allows tilling large areas quickly with the hoe
• Perfect for checking mine floors efficiently
• Makes artifact hunting in the mines much faster

Lookup Anything:

• Shows detailed information about artifacts
• Displays all possible locations and acquisition methods
• Helps plan targeted hunting strategies

Remember that mods should be used responsibly and according to your personal preference for gameplay authenticity. Some players prefer the challenge of vanilla artifact hunting, while others appreciate the quality-of-life improvements mods can provide.

The Completionist’s Timeline: A Realistic Schedule

Based on extensive testing and community reports, here’s what a realistic artifact collection timeline looks like:

Year 1, Spring (Days 1-28):

• Expect to find: 5-10 artifacts
• Focus areas: Beach, Mountain, Town
• Priority: Establish farm, start checking artifact spots during other tasks

Year 1, Summer (Days 29-56):

• Expect to find: 8-12 additional artifacts
• Focus areas: Add Forest to regular route, begin mining
• Priority: Get mining levels up, find Dwarf Scrolls

Year 1, Fall (Days 57-84):

• Expect to find: 5-8 additional artifacts
• Focus areas: All surface areas, deeper mine levels
• Priority: Fishing for treasure chests, collecting Omni Geodes

Year 1, Winter (Days 85-112):

• Expect to find: 10-15 additional artifacts
• Focus areas: Everywhere (winter has 3-4x more artifact spots)
• Priority: Dedicate significant time to artifact hunting

Year 2, Spring-Fall:

• Expect to find: Remaining artifacts except 1-3 rare ones
• Focus areas: Target missing artifacts specifically
• Priority: Desert access, Skull Cavern, Artifact Troves

Year 2, Winter:

• Expect to find: Final rare artifacts
• Focus areas: Only locations for your missing artifacts
• Priority: Complete the collection

The Last Few Artifacts: Typically, players get stuck on 2-3 particularly rare artifacts. The most commonly troublesome are:

• Ancient Sword
• Dinosaur Egg
• Dwarf Scroll IV
• Skeletal Tail
• Strange Dolls (both colors)

For these, targeted approaches are essential, whether that’s specific monster farming, artifact trove processing, or using the Stardew Predictor tool.

Real Player Experiences: Museum Completion Stories

To give you a feel for the artifact hunting experience, here are some real stories from the Stardew Valley community:

The Ancient Sword Saga:

“I’m a single artifact away from completing the museum, the ancient sword, and have been trying to find it every day for 2 in-game years. Most days I just check artifact spots in the mountains and Cindersnap forest, and mine Omni-geodes to convert to artifact troves.”

This player eventually found success using the Stardew Predictor tool to identify exactly which artifact trove would contain their missing sword.

The Display Case Struggle:

“seems like it really depends on the person. for example, I saw someone post about how long it took for them to find the ornamental fan but I have found several to the point where it’s annoying lol. on the other hand, it took me forever and hundreds of artifact troves to find the ancient sword”

RNG can be very different for each player, leading to widely varying experiences with artifact collection.

Post-1.6 Challenges:

“I’ve been running around the entire map for days and not finding a single dig spot, not even the carrot ones!”

The 1.6 randomization changes have created new challenges for artifact hunters, requiring adaptation of strategies.

The Fishing Solution:

“I’ve also had a lot of luck finding artifacts in treasure chests. I’d suggest choosing Fisher as your Level 5 fishing skill and Pirate at Level 10 (chance to find treasure is doubled). Use magnet bait and the treasure hunter tackle and your chances of finding treasure are increased.”

Many players have found that fishing is an increasingly viable alternative, especially after the 1.6 update.

Artifact Hunting Calendar: Month-by-Month Focus

To maximize efficiency, here’s a month-by-month guide for artifact hunting that accounts for seasonal factors and game progression:

Spring, Year 1:

• Early Spring: Focus on establishing farm and essential tools
• Mid Spring: Begin checking Beach, Mountain, and Town daily
• Late Spring: Start mining for Dwarf Scrolls I

Summer, Year 1:

• Early Summer: Add Forest to your daily route
• Mid Summer: Focus on fishing for treasure on high-luck days
• Late Summer: Mine for Dwarf Scrolls II

Fall, Year 1:

• Early Fall: Complete Community Center Vault if possible (for Desert access)
• Mid Fall: Begin collecting Omni Geodes for Artifact Troves
• Late Fall: Prepare for intensive Winter artifact hunting

Winter, Year 1:

• All Winter: Dedicate at least half of each day to artifact hunting
• Focus: Complete systematic coverage of all areas
• Target: Should finish Winter with approximately 25-30 artifacts donated

Spring, Year 2:

• Focus: Desert artifacts if bus is repaired
• Strategy: Artifact Troves from Desert Trader

Summer, Year 2:

• Focus: Skull Cavern runs for Dinosaur Egg if still missing
• Strategy: Pepper Rex hunting, deep cavern levels

Fall, Year 2:

• Focus: Missing mine artifacts
• Strategy: Systematic mining of dirt in specific level ranges

Winter, Year 2:

• Focus: Final cleanup of missing artifacts
• Strategy: Use Stardew Predictor (if on PC) or intensive targeted hunting

By Year 3, the vast majority of players will have completed their artifact collection or be down to just 1-2 extremely rare pieces.

Action Steps Recap:

Check artifact spots daily, prioritize Winter for hunting, use the Stardew Predictor for PC players stuck on their final artifacts, and don’t forget alternative sources like fishing treasure chests and Artifact Troves, especially after the 1.6 update reduced artifact spot frequency.

Further Resources:

• Stardew Predictor Tool
• Official Stardew Valley Wiki: Artifacts
• Artifact Spot Enhancer Mod
• UI Info Suite
• Stardew Valley Discord for real-time advice from veteran players

Artifact-Related Patch History

Date	Version	Change Note	Impact on Artifacts
Mar 19, 2024	1.6	“Randomization no longer produces simple repeating patterns in many cases (i.e., clay farming, mushroom level prediction, crab pot fish offset, etc)”	Artifact spots now truly random instead of following predictable patterns
Mar 19, 2024	1.6	Added option for “legacy randomization” in advanced settings	Players can revert to the old system for artifact hunting if preferred
Mar 19, 2024	1.6	“You can now place anchors and treasure chests in fish tanks”	New decorative use for the Anchor artifact
Dec 29, 2024	1.6.9	“The collections tab now shows artifacts, gems, and minerals once they’re donated to the museum (not as soon as you find it)”	Artifacts only count for collection after museum donation
Dec 29, 2024	1.6.9	Various bug fixes and quality of life improvements	General game stability for artifact hunters
Dec 20, 2024	1.6.15	“Fixed some things being less random than intended”	Further refinement of randomization system affecting artifacts
Feb 26, 2025	1.6.15.1	Switch patch with various fixes	No direct artifact changes noted
Apr 17, 2025	N/A	Wiki update with comprehensive artifact information	Improved documentation of artifact system