2-2 A N < ' I E N T M [ N I N Q 



Copper Implements, Ontonagon. — Some laborers in the employ of Mr. Greenfield 

 w< re levelling the ground for a brick yard on the east bank of the Ontonagon River, 

 half a mile above the village, in the year L854, when they perceived some pieces 

 of copper, which were well fashioned implements. They are said to have been 

 found upon a bed of clay in a ravine, and covered about two feet with alluvial 

 earth, a large cedar tree growing nearly over the spot. They consist of two imple- 

 ments, which may he described as spear or javelin heads, though more probably 

 designed as miners' tools; and two cutting instruments that may properly be called 

 chisels, as shown in the annexed sketches. These show the form and size better 

 than any written description. The socket of the spear is small, and not of the best 

 shape to give a good fastening to a start, which may perhaps favor the idea that it 

 was a weapon for the use of one hand, like a dirk. The blade is symmetrical and 

 strong; it apparently had not been much bruised or injured by use. If it was to 

 be thrown like a javelin, the stock or staff must have been fitted on around the 

 shank and driven down over the blade some distance, to make the wooden attach- 

 ment proportionally strong with the metal part. 



The chisel also had not been used, since neither the cutting edge nor the head 

 is battered. It is bent up longitudinally from near each end in the manner 

 shown by the cross section in c d. The object in giving it this form must have 

 been to stiffen it and thus save metal. This contrivance speaks well for the inge- 

 nuity of the maker. Those instruments have better proportions than similar ones 

 found in Ohio. They were probably fresh from the hands of the workman when 

 they were lost upon the banks of the river. Although I have myself examined 

 these implements, I am indebted to Messrs. Emerson, Coburn, and Mullownoy for 

 facts respecting them. Both are represented to be more hard and less malleable 

 than the native copper of the mines, from which it has been inferred that they have 

 undergone a hardening process. Like those found at Marquette and elsewhere, I 

 suppose the hardness is duo only to prolonged hammering, by which the density is 

 increased. The copper of the ancient inhabitants of Europe was hardened by 

 alloying it witli tin. 



Copper Implements, Carp River. (Not on the Map.)— In August. 1854, while 

 workmen were engaged for Mr. John Burt in making a dam across the Carp 

 River near Marquette, signs of copper were discovered in gravel. They were 

 wheeling earth from the banks of the stream, and did not at first preserve the 

 remains that were visible in the form of spots of green carbonate, which on exam- 

 ination presented a core of unoxidized metal. Mr. Burt states that there were 

 numerous thin chips of copper not entirely decayed, which appeared to have been 

 cut from a piece of native metal by a sharp and thin tool. Then- was also foiuid a 

 rude copper knife, the shank two and a half inches, and the blade four and a half 

 in length, making seven inches. The blade resembles in shape a short butcher 

 knife very much worn. It has spots of native silver imbedded in it like those 

 frequently seen in Lake Superior specimens of copper. 



Another tool resembles a bodkin, with a socket for the insertion of a wooden 

 handle. There were also arrow or spear heads of copper, which were probably 

 made upon the spot. These relies were lying upon a bed of water-washed gravel, 



