Digging Up Success: Your Complete Stardew Valley Artifacts Treasure Map

Stardew Valley Artifact Tracker

Stardew Valley Artifact Tracker

Track your museum collection progress and find missing artifacts

Museum Stats

Found: 0/42
Donated: 0/42
Completion: 0%

Next Rewards

15 artifacts: Ancient Seeds
20 artifacts: Rusty Key (Sewers)
42 artifacts: Stardew Hero Trophy

Artifact Collection

Artifact Rarity Primary Locations Found Donated Special Uses

Best Locations By Season

Spring Strategy

• 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

Priority Route: Farm → Bus Stop → Mountain → Pelican Town → Beach → Forest

1.6 Update Changes

• Artifact spots now truly random (no predictable patterns)

• Many players report fewer artifact spots appearing

• Added "legacy randomization" option in settings

• Fishing treasure chests yield more artifacts

• Artifacts only count in collection after museum donation

Artifact Hunting Tips

Loading tip...

Artifact Spot Frequency

Spring:
1×
Summer:
1×
Fall:
1×
Winter:
3-4×

Stardew Valley Artifact Tracker © 2025 | Data based on game version 1.6.15

Click on artifact rows to toggle found/donated status. Your progress is saved automatically.

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:

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:

Forest (Cindersap):

Mountain:

Pelican Town:

Farm:

Bus Stop/Railroad:

Desert (unlocked after Bus Repair):

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

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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:

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

Skull Cavern Special:

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:

Best Fishing Locations for Artifacts:

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:

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:

Clint vs. Geode Crusher:

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:

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):

Tier 2 (Evaluate Before Donating):

Tier 3 (Potentially Hold):

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

Key Museum Donation Milestones:

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:

Ancient Seed:

Dwarf Scroll I-IV:

Artifacts Required for Fish Ponds:

Dwarf Gadget:

Rusty Spoon:

Ancient Sword and Anchor:

Villager Gifting Chart

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

Loved Gifts (Best Response):

Liked Gifts (Good Response):

Neutral Gifts (No Special Response):

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):

Low Value Artifacts (Consider Keeping for Specific Uses):

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:

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:

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:

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

UI Info Suite:

Artifact Spot Enhancer:

CJB Cheats Menu (for extreme cases):

Tractor Mod:

Lookup Anything:

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):

Year 1, Summer (Days 29-56):

Year 1, Fall (Days 57-84):

Year 1, Winter (Days 85-112):

Year 2, Spring-Fall:

Year 2, Winter:

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

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:

Summer, Year 1:

Fall, Year 1:

Winter, Year 1:

Spring, Year 2:

Summer, Year 2:

Fall, Year 2:

Winter, Year 2:

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:

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