BULL. 30] 



COPPER 



345 



greatly, but many specimens are in per- 

 fect condition, some having retained the 

 high surface polish acquired in long use. 

 It happens that the jiresence of copper 

 objects in association with more perish- 

 able objects of wood, bone, shell, and 

 textile materials, has, through the action 

 of the copper carbonates, resulted in the 

 preservation of many precious things 

 which otherwise would have entirely 

 disappeared. 



Of the various implements of copper, the 

 celt, or chisel-like hatchet, has the widest 

 distribution. The 

 forms are greatly diver- 

 sified, and the weight 

 ranges from a few 

 ounces to several 

 pounds. The imple- 

 ment is never perfo- 

 rated for hafting, al- 

 though hafts were un- 

 doubtedly used, ])or- 

 tions of these having 

 been preserved in a few 

 cases. As with our own axes, the blade 

 is sometimes widened toward the cutting 

 edge, which is convex in outline. Many 

 specimens, however, are 

 nearly straight on the 

 sides, while others are 

 long and somewhat nar- 

 rower toward the point. 

 They could lie hafted to 

 serve as axes, adzes, or 

 gouges. Some have one 

 face flat and the other 

 slightly ridged, suggesting 

 the adz or gouge. Thecelt 

 forms grade into other 

 CELT.NEWYORK. (i-6) more sleudcr shapcs whlch 

 have chisel edges, and these into drillsand 

 graver-like tools, while following in turn 

 are needles and poniards, the latter being 

 generally cylindrical, 

 with long, tapering 



v 



(1-6) 



GROOVED Ax; Missouri; 

 1-4. (long col- 

 lection) 



points, the largest examples being 2 or 3 

 ft. in length and weighing several pounds. 

 The grooved ax is of rare occurrence, and 

 where found appears to repeat the stone 

 forms of the particular district. Squier 

 and Davis illustrate a two-edged specimen 

 with a hole through the middle of the 

 blade from face to face, supposed to have 

 been intended to aid in fixing the haft. 



Spud; Michigan. 



Related in general shape to the ax is 

 another type of implement sometimes 

 called a spud. Its distribution is lim- 

 ited to the district lying, immediately s. 

 of the great lakes. The socket is usually 

 formed by hammer- 

 ing out lateral wings 

 at the upper end of 

 the implement and 

 bending them in- 

 ward. The purpose 

 of this implement is 

 notfuUy determined. 

 With a long and 

 straight handle it 

 would serve as a 

 spadeor digging tool; 

 with thehandlesharplybentnear the point 

 of insertion it would become a hatchet or 

 an adz, according to the relative position 

 of the blade and handle. The natives had 

 already come to appreciate the value of 

 copper for knives, and blades of various 

 forms were in use ; usually these are d rawn 

 out into a long point at the haft end 

 for insertion into a wood or bone 

 handle. Arrowheads of various or- 

 dinary shapes are common, as are 

 also lance and si)ear heads, the lat- 

 ter being sometimes 

 sha^^ed for insertioninto 

 the end of the wooden 

 shaft, but more fre- 

 quently havingasocket, 

 made as in the spud, for 

 the insertion of the han- 

 dle. Drills, needles, 

 pins, fishhooks, etc., 

 occur in considerable 

 numbers, especially in 

 the Northern states. 



Personal ornaments 

 are of great variety, 

 including beads, pen- 

 dants, pins, eardisks, 

 earrings, bracelets, gorgets, etc. The most 

 interesting objects of copper do not come 

 within either of the ordinary classes of or- 

 naments, although they doubtless served 

 in some way as adornments for the per- 

 son, probably in connection with the cer- 

 emonial headdress. These are made of 

 sheet copi>er, and certain of their fea- 

 tures are suggestive of 

 exotic, though not of 

 Eurojiean, influence. 



Knife Blade, Wiscon- 

 sin (1-6'; b, Spear- 

 head OR Knife, Wiscon- 

 sin (1-6); C. SPEAR- 

 HEAD, Wisconsin (l-e) 



Bracelet from a mound. 

 (1-3) 



Pierced Tablet; Ohio. 

 (1-6) 



The best examples are from one of the 

 Etowah mounds in Georgia. Other re- 



