First ever Contact Period Trade Point

[smokeythecat]

I actually have had this a few weeks. It was found at a site established before 1750. About 1/4 mile away was also a known Indian village at a spring. It is a contact period (17th to 18th) century brass trade point. I had it set off to the side, and finally took a long hard look at it through big time magnification. A first point for me in brass. I have one I found in iron from a long time ago and about 25 miles away. It is about 3/4" long and intact. I have not cleaned it. The brass is so old it is beginning to crumble around the edges. This is my best year EVER.

 

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[Daighbc]

Congrats! what a find I wish I could find one of them!

 

[smokeythecat]

Thank you. It's been over 50 years since I found my first artifact with my mother, and as stated this is the first one. I have purchased three or four over the years, but this is a first find for me. I thought at first it was junk, but the brass is ancient, and it was definitely cut to its present shape.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Great find Smokey. I think most people would have figured that to be junk, and thrown it away. Good thing you know your stuff !

 

[smokeythecat]

Thanks Trezurehunter, it's one of those little items I also think most people would have tossed. I'll have to label it correctly for sure.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Congratualtions on the fantastic piece of history!

 

[Hawks88]

That is a fantastic find. Would have went in my junk pile only because I don’t know what you know. Congratulations.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Congratulations!

I am sort of bummed though, because I have been throwing "points" like that into the garbage for years. I could never find examples in collections, so I thought they were junk metal.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

Nice save!

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[A2coins]

thats really cool

 

[smokeythecat]

Terry! Don't do that! In your area there is a good chance of finding some. Here's a pic of one I've had awhile and another overlooked item, a tinkler cone, made of sheet brass.

 

[cdickrun64]

What exactly are these? Made how? By who?

 

[smokeythecat]

Made by native Americans after 1500 when Europeans came here and traded brass, lead, copper and iron to them for food, furs, that kind of thing. On the East Coast this practice ended by 1800 as the natives were run off. The Plains Indians and natives in Canada fared better and they also had iron points.