Copper Implements. 137 



all cold-wrought by hammering. Some retaining the original 

 scales or lamina on the surface ; none of them show signs of use, 

 and are notably harder on the edge than elsewhere." 



All of these interesting implements are figured in the proceed- 

 ings of the American Association at the Detroit meeting, page 304. 



We can learn more from this Davenport collection than from 

 any other, because of the perfect condition of the specimens, be- 

 ing unused and in some degree protected by their coverings. 



Besides this half swedgiog process, I am persuaded that, in a 

 few instances at least, there was a complete mould worked out in 

 halves, on the face of two flat stones, so that by placing a suitable 

 piece of copper between them and giving it repeared heavy blows 

 the copper was made to fill the mould accurately. 



Last September, while watshing some workmen engaged in fill- 

 ing the cribs of the harbor pier with stone, my attention was 

 directed to a slight excavation on the face of a large granite 

 boulder. On careful inspection I found that it was undoubtedly 

 the work of man ; although but a part of the excavation was left, 

 the rock having suffered fractures, there was enough, neverthe- 

 less, to enable me to make out the original form. We attempted 

 to chip off the specimen with a heavy stone hammer, but failed, 

 as the cleavage was in the wrong direction, and the mould was 

 obliterated. I however worked out a pattern as nearly accurate 

 as I could, representing the excavation. I took this pattern to a 

 stone cutter, for the purpose of having a mould cut in granite. 

 Upon consultation it was decided that the mould would have to 

 be cut in halves in large granite boulders in order to insure suc- 

 cess, which would be costly and inconvenient, and for the pur- 

 pose of illustrating the subject it would be as well to have a 

 mould cast in iron. This was done, and a beautiful ax swedged 

 out of cold native copper was the result. This cylindrical speci- 

 .men^^ was made out of a piece of float capper, hammered with a 

 stone ax into partial shape, and then finished by rolling between 

 heavy flat stones. 



(The author exhibited plain convex and double convex hatchets, 

 as well as a long cylindrical implement tapering regularly from 

 the centre to the point, that were fabricated by him in the man- 

 ner stated j. «=Tne speciitens referred lo was exhibited to the Academy. 



