180 Ancient Mining on the SJiores of Lake Superior. 



All the ancient excavations hitherto examined could have been made 

 with our means of working, at less expense than lias been incurred 

 during the last ten years. But we must allow much for the imperfect 

 modes of operating, and thus increase the number required to do the 

 same work ; we must also, on the other hand, conclude that the old 

 mines were wrought a great length of time, and infer that a less mining 

 force was kept up than we have in our times. 



In the prosecution of mining in this remote region, not only would 

 the deaths be few, but among them such distinguished persons as were 

 entitled to sepulchral mounds or moi^uments would not be found in 

 great numbers. The absence of artificial mounds, therefore, need not 

 excite surpinse. 



The Mound-builders consumed large quantities of copper. Axes, 

 adzes, chisels, and ornamental rings are so common among the relics in 

 Ohio as to leave no doubt on this subject. We know of no copper- 

 bearing veins so accessible as those of Lake Superior to a people resi- 

 ding on the waters of the Ohio. Neither are there any others now 

 known that produce native metal in quantities to serve as an article of 

 commerce. Specimens of pure copper are found in other mines of 

 North America, but not as a prominent part of the lode. The imple- 

 ments and ornaments found in the mounds are made of metal that has 

 not been melted. They have been brought into shape cold wrought, or 

 at least without heat enough to liquefy the metal, and were therefore 

 produced from native copper. In the Lake Superior veins spots of 

 native silver are frequently seen studding the surface of the copper, 

 united or welded to it, but not alloyed with it. This is not known of 

 any other mines, and seems to mark a Lake Superior specimen wher- 

 ever it is found. It also proves conclusively that such pieces have not 

 undergone fusion, for then the pure white spots would disappear, form- 

 ing a weak alloy. Copper with blotches of native silver has been taken 

 from the mounds. Dr. John Locke, of Cincinnati, possessed a flat- 

 tened piece of copper weighing several pounds, Avhich was found in the 

 earthworks at Colerain, Hamilton County, Ohio, having a spot of sil- 

 ver as large as a pea forming a part of the mass. 



At the first view of the logs which supported the mass of the Min- 

 nesota vein, the marks of the tool by which, they were cut brought to 

 mind the old copper axes I had seen in Ohio figured by Mr. Squier. 

 The cut was about an inch and three tenths wide, not smooth like that 

 of a perfectly sharp edge, and not deep enough for a modern ax or 

 hatchet. No such axes have been found on Lake Superior. Those of 

 Ohio may have been used as a chisel, although ]\Ir. Squier thinks a 

 handle was attached to them. The difference between the ax and the 



,y 



