Is this a prehistoric era Axe??---Final Update.

[ryaan21]

Same post in todays finds.....its really exciting for me.


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Hi all found this today about 100 yards from my house. It was a really good signal and i dug the hole and buried it twice out of frustration. My dad was close to me when i was digging and he kept giving me crap about giving up. So i dug down about 13-15 inches and up popped this. Im not sure how the pics will turn out but you should get the general idea. I live in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan which has an abundant copper area about 100 miles north of where i am. The axe head has a nice green patina and looks hand forged. Any ideas on a probable value or who i could take it to to get it dated?? Thanks for looking. HH.


Update.

This item was sold to a museum. I dont have the knowhow to keep it from corroding further and it is going to be displayed with a handwritten article by me and a newspaper clipping our local paper did.

The spot where this was found has more items. I got 3-4 more signals identical to this one there. Deep deep and signaling a silver dollar. Gonna wait till fall i think before i go to digging there anymore. That way ill have some more stuff to keep me busy over the winter with research and what not.

 

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[bakergeol]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

Wow what a find!

You might try the Native American artifact hunters for who you would contact.

From the link below- an ungrooved celt like thiscould be classified as Woodland period but I am not an expert.

http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/nat_amer/pre/htmls/w_tools.html

Probably worth major bucks.

Great find
George

 

[Angelo]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

Ryann, Here's an article for your area.

Tony

http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/collectors_corner/arc/float_cu.htm

 

[MichiganJason]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

Yeah, This was a great find today, Ryaan is my brother and I was there when he found this. It was at a local park, One that is hardly used though, And I dont think it has seen many detectors. Sure hope it has some decent value, But either way, It is the find of the year between the 2 of us.

 

[MSgtUSAF]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

Here's one like it on EBAY: Item # 180135803953

You can also contact the seller who may have more info for you, nice find.


MSgt

 

[EDDE]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

http://www.copperculture.homestead.com/
illinois doug found 2 items of that sort sold them for 800-900 bucks

 

[TreasureTales]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

Avoid the fees that ebay charges and sell it to me directly. I'll pay $25.00, sight unseen.

Well, seriously now, I am very excited for you! That is truly an awesome find, and in your own backyard...almost. Please keep us updated and let us know what you learn about it and what you do with it. Remember one thing: if you sell it, you will spend the money and soon forget what you bought with it. But if you keep the treasure, you will be able to enjoy it for a lifetime.

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

If this were found in the UK, it would be called a Bronze Flat Axe. The mark I of axeheads produced in cica 1800BC. Worth only £250-£300.

But I guess with the rarity over there it must be worth double that. (probably a total different date to ours as well)

Great Find. Keep it as you never find another one.

I found a Bronze Age axehead this year with the burial site, I have paid for a replica for the local Museum. I am also commissioning a geophysical survey to see the extent of the burial site, at this time it maybe unique in the UK. The archeologists weren't interested so & will write my own paper & publish it, to rub their nose in it

 

[budda10000]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

interesting find but i was always under the impression that the natives of the U.S. were a stone age culture prior to European contact so I Don't think they would have been forging copper axes. I could be wrong...

 

[re-tek]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

If this were found in the UK, it would be called a Bronze Flat Axe. The mark I of axeheads produced in cica 1800BC. Worth only £250-£300....

hey! think you can spare a yank a measely 250 pounds so he can buy lunch eh chap?

$300-400 is deffinitely not in the "only" category!

 

[relic lover]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

Whatever you do don't clean it! they are worth more in dug condition.

 

[Rob66]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

I don't think they where that smart...yet.It was mostly rock throwing back then
but, then... someone got smart maybe it's the first one
Rob

 

[diggummup]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

interesting find but i was always under the impression that the natives of the U.S. were a stone age culture prior to European contact so I Don't think they would have been forging copper axes. I could be wrong...

Copper was being used at least as early as 3500 years ago in North America during the late Archaic period or "old copper age" maybe longer.

 

[jewelerdave]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

Copper axe, most likely beat out of native copper to shape as it is belived that the native americans could not melt and cast...although if it is cast it would be quite the find, hard to get.

Most of these are 800 year old to 3000 years old, most likely 100AD to 400AD.

Probably buried with someone, Id check the spot for more stuff as something of such value then would not be casually discarded.
Dont worry, i am sure the bones are long gone, but you may find with some digging clay pipes. Shell beads, more copper, you may want to contact a local university and get there opinion before you do anything at all.

 

[MD Dog]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

There's obviously still some questions to be answered here, can the item be prehistoric ? Were early Americans smelting copper as early as 3500 years ago ? Well I'll get the answers for you, hold on let me ask my mother in law.

 

[DANGLANGLEY]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

That is an awesome find. Once in a lifetime for sure! Way to go.

DANGLANGLEY

 

[SkyRock Cafe]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

WOW,
that has to be one of the coolest finds that I have seen, I would hold onto it, maybe get it authenticated, appraised, and put it on display. That is what I would do. MAN I would give most anything to find something like that.
Best,
Joe K

 

[Oroblanco]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

I would be interested in hearing whether the axe is copper (most likely) or bronze (very unlikely) - please keep us posted as to your research results? Congratulations on a GREAT find, a once-in-a-lifetime treasures! Thank you in advance,
Oroblanco

 

[EggyOG]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

The copper culture extended all the way down the Lake MI shoreline, and items were traded as far as the Ohio Valley. MI copper is unique and can be chemically verified because of its purity. I would caution you on showing this piece off, discretion is the name of the game. Removing these items from their resting place is not viewed kindly, and can even be illegal. We showed a spear head to a University Prof and he told us we had to bring it back where we found it and rebury it......so we sold it to another prof for $3400. Be careful, the government and the Indians are 2 groups you don't want involved with this.

 

[KeystoneKid]

Re: Is this a prehistoric era Axe??

The copper culture extended all the way down the Lake MI shoreline, and items were traded as far as the Ohio Valley. MI copper is unique and can be chemically verified because of its purity. I would caution you on showing this piece off, discretion is the name of the game. Removing these items from their resting place is not viewed kindly, and can even be illegal. We showed a spear head to a University Prof and he told us we had to bring it back where we found it and rebury it......so we sold it to another prof for $3400. Be careful, the government and the Indians are 2 groups you don't want involved with thi

You beat me to Eggy because I was going to tell him the same thing. With these new Antiquity laws being passes by the Federal Government and our States you need to be careful about showing that piece around especially a University Professor, because he just may pick up the phone and make a phone call and you my find yourself not in possession of the Axe Head even if you found it in your own back yard. If I were you I would take some good pictures of the item plus make a tracing of it and show those around, and just to be safe have one of your relatives stash it for you.