IS NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



added much in writing on the antiquities of Wisconsin in 1S55. 

 Col. Whittlesey published his account of ancient mining on 

 Lake Superior in '1863, yet Dr Charles Rau said, in his paper 

 entitled Ancient ahoriginal trade in Xortli America: ^' The Smith- 

 sonian institution has been receiving for years Indian antiqui- 

 ties from ail parts of jS^orth America, yet possessed in 1870' 

 only seven copper objects: namely, three spearheads, two small 

 rods, a semilunar knife with convex cutting edge, and an ax 

 of good shape." — Rau. Ahorkj. p. 94. There are more there now, 

 and yet but few compared with some private collections. 



The Lake Superior copper sometimes contains small masses^ 

 of native silver. Where this is present the source of the supply 

 may be known but its absence is no test. Most articles show 

 raised spots and lines, retaining a hammered appearance. The 

 softer metal between is corroded. The stone hammers and rude 

 wooden tools of the early miners are yet found where they 

 worked centuries ago. Col. Whittlesev thought 500 vears had 

 passed since that time; Mr Lapham allowed a much more recent 

 period. It will be seen that the Jesuit Relations speak of work 

 done there in the latter half of the 17th centurv. While it is 

 probable that many implements were made in adjacent dis- 

 tricts, it is perfectly clear that masses of metal were carried 

 away to be cut up and wrought elsewhere. Such blocks have 

 been found and the Jesuits mention those that thev had seen 

 or owned. 



In common with others the writer at first could hardlv resist 

 the belief that the early copper articles brought to him were 

 cast in a rude matrix of sand. Much of the surface appears 

 like a rough casting, and the longitudinal raised lines could be 

 attributed to cracks in the mold. Dr Hoy thought the metal was 

 subjected to a great pressure in a matrix of stone. The i^rev- 

 alent opinion now is that all our implements of this kind were 

 hammered into shape. One surface is usually flat but the re- 

 verse quite commonly has a central and longitudinal ridge. 

 On this surface the workman hammered along one side and 

 then changed ends to hammer the other, the slightly oblique 



