Old Copper complex: Difference between revisions
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The Old Copper Complex of the Western Great Lakes is the best known of these. [[Great Lakes]] natives of the [[Archaic period in the Americas|Archaic tradition]] located 99% pure copper in the area of [[Lake Superior]], both in veins and nuggets in gravel beds. Major quarries were located on [[Isle Royale]], the [[Keweenaw Peninsula]], and the [[Brule River]], and copper was deposited elsewhere by glaciation as well.<ref name="Gibbon 28">Gibbon, Guy. "Old Copper in Minnesota: A Review." ''The Plains Anthropologist.'' Vol. 43, No. 163, p. 28. 1998.</ref> Eventually they learned to hammer the copper and produce a variety of spearpoints, tools and decorative objects. In addition to practical use, the Copper Complex peoples traded copper goods to obtain other exotic materials. |
The Old Copper Complex of the Western Great Lakes is the best known of these. [[Great Lakes]] natives of the [[Archaic period in the Americas|Archaic tradition]] located 99% pure copper in the area of [[Lake Superior]], both in veins and nuggets in gravel beds. Major quarries were located on [[Isle Royale]], the [[Keweenaw Peninsula]], and the [[Brule River]], and copper was deposited elsewhere by glaciation as well.<ref name="Gibbon 28">Gibbon, Guy. "Old Copper in Minnesota: A Review." ''The Plains Anthropologist.'' Vol. 43, No. 163, p. 28. 1998.</ref> Eventually they learned to hammer the copper and produce a variety of spearpoints, tools and decorative objects. In addition to practical use, the Copper Complex peoples traded copper goods to obtain other exotic materials. |
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The Copper Complex can be dated as far back as |
The Copper Complex can be dated as far back as 5800 B. C. with mining stopping around 1600 B. C. Mining would have required a massive effort for thousands of years. The method used was to burn wood at the face of a copper seam, then douse it with water fracturing the copper. The amount of copper removed in ancient times was estimated by an engineer in the 1800's at one billion pounds but recent estimates are lower. Copper was apparently removed by ship and a cache was found on a ship route. By 1600 B. C, the lake levels had dropped, restricting ship access. Carbon dating matches the lake level fall but no evidence has been found indicating the identity of the miners. The miners did use chilled copper tools, some of which were found in the area. The local native Americans have legends of driving a group of white men out of that area in ancient times. By about 3,000 years ago the use of copper is increasingly restricted to jewelry and other status-related items, rather than for tools. This is thought to represent the development of more complex hierarchical cultures in the area.<ref>Thomas C. Pleger, "A Brief Introduction to the Old Copper Complex of the Western Great Lakes: 4000-1000 BC", ''[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6NUQNQAACAAJ Proceedings of the Twenty-seventh Annual Meeting of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin]'', Oconto, Wisconsin, October 5, 2002, pp. 10-18.</ref><ref>Thomas E. Emerson, Dale L. McElrath, ''[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=awsA08oYoskC&pg=PA709&dq=%22Old+copper+metalsmithing%22#v=onepage&q=%22Old%20copper%20metalsmithing%22&f=false Archaic Societies: Diversity and Complexity Across the Midcontinent]'', SUNY Press, 2009 ISBN 1-4384-2701-8.</ref><ref name=occ>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=Obgdz8auwkMC&pg=PA28|pages=28–29|title=Indians in the Americas: the untold story|author=William Marder|publisher=Book Tree|year=2005|isbn=1-58509-104-9}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 21:52, 11 August 2012
Old Copper Complex is a term used for ancient Native North American societies known to have been heavily involved in the utilization of copper for weaponry and tools. It is to be distinguished from the Copper Age (Chalcolithic era), when copper use becomes systematic.
The Old Copper Complex of the Western Great Lakes is the best known of these. Great Lakes natives of the Archaic tradition located 99% pure copper in the area of Lake Superior, both in veins and nuggets in gravel beds. Major quarries were located on Isle Royale, the Keweenaw Peninsula, and the Brule River, and copper was deposited elsewhere by glaciation as well.[1] Eventually they learned to hammer the copper and produce a variety of spearpoints, tools and decorative objects. In addition to practical use, the Copper Complex peoples traded copper goods to obtain other exotic materials.
The Copper Complex can be dated as far back as 5800 B. C. with mining stopping around 1600 B. C. Mining would have required a massive effort for thousands of years. The method used was to burn wood at the face of a copper seam, then douse it with water fracturing the copper. The amount of copper removed in ancient times was estimated by an engineer in the 1800's at one billion pounds but recent estimates are lower. Copper was apparently removed by ship and a cache was found on a ship route. By 1600 B. C, the lake levels had dropped, restricting ship access. Carbon dating matches the lake level fall but no evidence has been found indicating the identity of the miners. The miners did use chilled copper tools, some of which were found in the area. The local native Americans have legends of driving a group of white men out of that area in ancient times. By about 3,000 years ago the use of copper is increasingly restricted to jewelry and other status-related items, rather than for tools. This is thought to represent the development of more complex hierarchical cultures in the area.[2][3][4]
See also
References
- ^ Gibbon, Guy. "Old Copper in Minnesota: A Review." The Plains Anthropologist. Vol. 43, No. 163, p. 28. 1998.
- ^ Thomas C. Pleger, "A Brief Introduction to the Old Copper Complex of the Western Great Lakes: 4000-1000 BC", Proceedings of the Twenty-seventh Annual Meeting of the Forest History Association of Wisconsin, Oconto, Wisconsin, October 5, 2002, pp. 10-18.
- ^ Thomas E. Emerson, Dale L. McElrath, Archaic Societies: Diversity and Complexity Across the Midcontinent, SUNY Press, 2009 ISBN 1-4384-2701-8.
- ^ William Marder (2005). Indians in the Americas: the untold story. Book Tree. pp. 28–29. ISBN 1-58509-104-9.
