Do you have difficulties in finding Artifact Spots in Stardew Valley? Don’t give up yet. Here’s a helpful guide for you to find them and know the possible loots!
While strolling around and keeping yourself busy with your tasks, you may encounter a weird-looking worm or twigs. If you see it as pests, you might miss the opportunity to get a random artifact.
These worms are “artifact spots”, and they mark areas with valuable items ranging from standard to rare loot. The objects’ value depends on their location, but here’s a guide that’ll help you determine what you’ll find and where you can get them.
What is an Artifact Spot?
An artifact spot is a marked tile that hides an item underneath. Stardew Valley players usually call it worms, but Livin’ Off the Land described it as “little brown stems.” You can dig them up using a hoe and find artifacts, random items such as stones, copper ore, clay, coal, or even a lost book.
Getting random resources or lost books can be disappointing. However, getting the book is inevitable as it has a 28% to 32% chance. You can also find it anywhere but your farm, and once you find 20 of them, you’ll get mixed seeds instead.
To increase the odds of finding an artifact, you can apply an enchantment on your hoe.
You can choose between Generous and Archeologist. The first perk gives you a 50% chance of getting two artifacts on one spot. While the latter doubles the probability of finding a good treasure.
Getting a nicely enhanced tool is just the beginning because the true adventure starts with searching for these artifact spots.
Where to Find Artifact Spots?
An artifact spot randomly appears outside as their spawn points depend on the map. Their average spawn rate on Cindersap Forest and Bus Stop is 0.1/day, while it surfaces 1/day in the Desert.
Although they’re available in all seasons, it’s still best to look for them in winter since they generate higher prices this time.
During winter, artifacts spots’ average production starts from 0.4/day in the Railroad and 1.4/day in the Desert. You’ll also find them in grass-type tiles, which typically appear on tillable soils in other seasons.
Note that they lessen if many still exist on the map since two is the maximum spawn rate, while one also appears on your farm. Nonetheless, their population rises to five in winter.
After removing an existing artifact spot, the spawning calculation begins. You won’t see them in permanent and concealed spaces, but you sometimes get them on unexpected sites.
Getting the Tracker profession makes it easier since it’ll give arrow guides to find them.
Undetected Artifact Spots remain for a long while, but there’s a 15% chance for them to disappear overnight. It may increase at 28% by the end of the season and rise to 39% Sunday morning.
What Treasure Can You Find From Artifact Spots?
Artifact Spots can be the key to uncovering treasures in Stardew Valley. But some artifacts can’t be found in them, like the following:
- Dwarf Scrolls
- Dwarvish Helm
- Dwarf Gadget
- Rare Disc
- Skeletal Tail
You can get bonuses on other relics by completing orders and quests such as:
- Completing Gunther’s Fragments of the Past” – Reward: 20% chance to find to two five Bone Fragments
- Completing Qi’s Crop Quest. Reward: 25% chance to get two to five Qi Beans.
You’ll find rare or seasonal crops from an artifact spot every season.
Item drops range from rocks to snow yams. Moreover, Warp Totems replace clays in Summer 1 of Year 1. The type of totem you’ll get teleports you to the farm, beach, and mountain.
Here’s the complete table of items you can find in every season:
Seasonal Items (Stardew Valley)
Here’s the complete table of items you can find in the valley every season:
| Item | No. | Chances (%) | Price | Season | Location |
| Gold Ore | 1-3 | 4% | 25g | Summer or fall | The Beach |
| Rice Shoots | 1-5 | 3%-6% | 20g | Spring | Anywhere but the desert or beach |
| Snow Yam | NA | 11%-16% | 300g (reward) | Winter | Anywhere but the Desert |
| Warp Totem: Beach | 1 | 10% | 20g | Summer | Anywhere |
| Warp Totem: Farm | 1 | 10% | 20g | Summer | Anywhere |
| Warp Totem: Mountain | 1 | 10% | 20g | Summer | Anywhere |
| Winter Root | NA | 28%-50% | 140g (reward) | Winter | Anywhere but the Desert |
Fossils and Forages (Ginger Island)
You’ll find artifact spots with tons of valuable loot in Ginger Island as well.
In this map, you’ll find some Bone Fragments that increase when Mining and Luck Levels improve.
Also, beware of cracking a Golden Coconut. It upturns its spawn rate when opened and decreases the likelihood of other items like Taro Tubers and Artifact Troves.
| Items | No. | Chances (%) | Price | Location |
| Artifact Troves | 1-2 | 10%-9% | Not Sellable | Anywhere |
| Bone Fragments | 1-4 | 22.5% | 12g | Island North |
| Fossilized Ribs | 1 | 25% | 100g | Island South |
| Golden Coconut | 1 | 10% | Not Sellable | Anywhere |
| Mahogany Seed | 1 | 5% | 100g | Anywhere |
| Omni Geode | 1 | 100% | 0g | Anywhere |
| Snake Skull | 1 | 10% | 100g | Island West Island North |
| Snake Vertebrae | 1 | 22.5% | 100g | Island West |
| Taro Tubers | 2-4 | 33%-29.7% | 20g | Anywhere |
| Wild Bait | 1 | 10% | 15g | Anywhere |
Secret Notes
Secret Notes are a collection of messages which contain trivia, clues, or missions dropped all over Stardew Valley. To start finding them, you’ll need a magnifying glass from the Shadow Person (presumably Krobus) by confronting him in the bush. There’s only a 5% chance to get these notes, so make sure to increase your luck level.
| Secret Notes Highlights | Content |
| #1: A page from Abigail’s Diary | List of items she loves. |
| #2: Sam’s Holiday Shopping List | Best gifts for his family and two friends. |
| #3: Leah’s Food Basket | Her idea of a perfect dinner. |
| #4: Maru’s Notes | List of parts for her greatest invention. |
| #5: Penny’s Items Checklist | A list of her loved ones’ favorite treats. |
| #6: Special Orders from Stardrop Saloon | Lewis, Caroline, Demetrius, and Marnie’s favorite dish. |
| #7: Page from Someone’s Diary | List of Older Bachelors; enumeration of their weaknesses and likes. |
| #8: A Letter for Haley and Emily | A letter from their mom and dad sending their favorites. |
| #9: Alex’s Strength Training Diet | Alex’s Diet and his thoughts about it. |
| #10: A Message for You (Qi) | A message from someone who’s waiting for you in the Skull cavern. |
| #11: An Old Photo | A vintage shot of a woman and a child in a barn. |
| #12: Dumpster Diving Loots | List of good things to find around Pelican Town. |
| #13: Secret Plush Quest | A note of brief instructions for the task at the end of any season. |
| #14: Community Center’s Hidden Statue | A clue for a hidden item behind the community center. |
| #15: Mermaid Show | A combination of numbers that you can use to get a pearl in Night Market. |
| #16: Treasure Map: Railroad Tracks | Photo with a red “X” marking near the Railroad Tracks. |
| #17: Treasure Map: Northern Part of JojoMart | Photo with a red “X” marking near the river and a guide to the task’s location. |
| #18: Treasure Map: Calico Desert | Photo with a red “X” drawing near a bench. |
| #19: Lewis’ Golden Statue | A note containing a series of instructions that ultimately results in the acquisition of Solid Gold Lewis. Placing the statue will make the Mayor displeased, sending the player 750g for a discretion request. |
| #20: Rabbit’s Foot Quest | A secret leading to the JojaMart truck driver. Giving the delivery person a Rabbit’s Foot will permanently increase your luck (Special Charm). |
| #21: A big bush near the bridge. | A note hinting at the “secret meeting place” of Mayor Lewis and Marnie. |
| #22: Mr. Qi’s Introductions | A cryptic instructions from Mr. Qi admiring to meet the player. |
| #23: Bear’s Knowledge Quest | Someone with little English writing knowledge lost a piece of paper telling the player to bring a Maple Syrup inside the Secret Woods. |
| #24: The Myth of Junimos | A page from M. Jasper’s book talking about the forest spirits’ existence and what they do in Stardew Valley. |
| #25: Lost Necklace | It’s a confession of Abigail losing an Ornate Necklace given by Caroline. |
Missing Library Books
These lost books can be a bore, but their contents are helpful for players who want to learn more about Stardew Valley.
These are the books you can use to improve your gameplay:
| Title | Summary |
| Tips on Farming | A guide to help you cultivate crops in Stardew Valley. |
| Marnie’s Ranching Guide | Useful tips for a more efficient livestock farming. |
| On Foraging | A helpful beginner’s guide for a forager. |
| The Fisherman, Act I, | Gordy reveals the benefits of leveling up Fishing skills to Tex. |
| How Deep Do The Mines Go? | Crazy speculations about the mysterious Mines in Stardew Valley. |
| An Old Farmer’s Journal | A farmer’s wholesome experience befriending the villagers, including sharing gifts and recipes. |
| Scarecrows | From the importance and use to tile range and secrets of a scarecrow. |
| The Secret of the Stardrop | Professor R. J. Kutler’s assumptions about the Stardrop’s origin, source, and consumption effects. |
| Journey of the Prairie King — The Smash Hit Video Game! | Facts about the Western-themed shooter video game. |
| A Study on Diamond Yields | Jasper’s conclusion for a Diamond’s frequency in the Local Mines. |
| Brewmaster’s Guide | Contains the instructions for brewing beer, pale ale, and wine. |
| Mysteries of the Dwarves | M. Jasper’s assumption about the mysterious dwarves. |
| Highlights From The Book of Yoba | The story of Yoba creating the world (Stardew Valley’s deity). |
| Marriage Guide for Farmers | A comprehensive guide on dating and marrying a town bachelors or bachelorette. |
| The Fisherman, Act II | A story about Gordy’s attempt to catch Legend. Tex’s curiosity led to a discovery about their father-son relationship. |
| Technology Report! | A scientific breakthrough of Crystalarium. The invention can replicate any mineral/gem except Prismatic Shard. |
| Secrets of the Legendary Fish | Details about the five exotic legendaries and places to catch them. |
| N/A | Gunther’s discovery in the tunnels of Pelican Town |
| Note from Gunther | A brief note for library appreciation. |
| Goblins by M. Jasper | The origins, history, and meal of surviving Goblins. |
| N/A | A cryptic message which means Super Cucumber Town Duck Mayo Saloon Strange Bun Toy Box (secret items). |
