Something we all should know

[dr-quest]

I didnt find this today but thought it might be interesting.I almost through this out when I found it but luckely I am a pirate and hoard everything.Months after digging this I was reading Western Eastern treasure and low and behold there it was,the oldest item I will probably ever dig.Its a projectile point made by the Indians around the great lakes bettween 5000 -1000 BC.They are now thought to be some of the earliest metal workers.After the flot copper and exposed vains ran out they reverted back to stone.There are points ,awls,rings,bracelets,spearheads,fish hooks,etc.Highly prized and most likely traded in there day ,so be on the lookout and dont throw them away,recheck your scrap pile.I also found a copper bracelet there and will post some shots soon.Anyone who is interested should aquire the september 1997 back issue volume 31.Just though we all should know before you chuck that strange piece of copper.

[roswellborn]

How cool is that!

Honestly, I had no idea that anyone worked in metal at all on this continent (until - well, later).

Are they considered "some of the earliest metal workers" ever? or solely on this continent?

Very cool, I'm glad you posted it.

HH
Nan

[dr-quest]

This would make them the earliest workers in metal period [at 5000bc].The author had two pieces with some organic material [wood] carbon dated at 2000 bc which is in line with copper being worked in the UK.If its copper dont throw it away.Google indian copper culture for more info.

[Adena_man]

It would be great to find some copper points or tools! I have never found anything like that down here.

Good luck!

[fossis]

Thanks for the info, & very nice Artifact.

In the Spiro Mounds in E. Ok. they found a copper box, believed traded from the Michigan Indians, Conch shell from the gulf, Mica from the East, so they had a vast trading system.

Fossis..................

[Johnny X]

Very nice. I can't wait to see that bracelet.

xstevenx

[jbl04410]

nice.......I saw a smaller version of that found in Illinois.The part of the tip where the shaft slid in wasnt quite that long.

[TreasureTales]

Very interesting. I never would have imagined it was that old or that it was an arrow point. Thanks for increasing my awareness. Let's see the bracelet, please.

[Cannonman17]

Nice conical point there, one of the more common types found but great to find no matter what. I don't believe that this particular style is ca. 5000 b.c. though. There is a myriad of different copper artifacts out there and some of the older ones are quite rare.

[newnan man]

http://www.nativetech.org/metal/points.html

[Cannonman17]

Native Americans didn't make brass arrowheads. Brass is a mix of copper and zinc- they made them from native copper deposits, many of which are nearly pure copper with only a bit of silver here and there. I have run across a number of people who have mistakenly thought that copper points were brass because of a particular type of patina often found on points that are in a coastal/beach/lake environment but they were still copper. Perhaps some trade points were made of brass - I don't really know much about those but certainly not any native pieces.