; 
5 
a 
; 
y 
» 
called it sheet metal. 
METALLIC IMPLEMENTS OF NEW YORK INDIANS 30 
Fig. 37 is a very thin copper knife or spear of this type, found 
near Cold Spring on the Hudson and belonging to Mr James 
Nelson of that place. It is 22 inches long and # inch wide with 
a perforation near the base. Not being symmetric it may have 
been a knife. If of native copper the hole would be an anomaly, 
but the figure suggests a recent article and Mr Nelson’s note 
Fig. 56 is of the same class, the flanges contracting more than 
usual in the outline sent by the owner, Mr W. T. Fenton of 
/Conewango Valley N. Y. In a note on this article Mr Fenton 
said: “I have lived in this valley over 50 years but have seen 
but one copper arrowhead. Of that I send you outline of actual 
size. It was found in the town of Poland, Chautauqua co. Mr 
, 
Larkin claims to have found some copper ornaments in a mound 
he opened a great many years ago, but if I remember right he 
sent them to the Smithsonian institution.” 
In his Ancient man in America Dr Larkin often speaks of native 
copper articles, without mentioning their final resting place. In 
a letter to the writer he says he thought he sent them to the 
‘Smithsonian institution or the Peabody museum. Nothing could 
_be learned of them there and it is to be regretted that all have 
disappeared. His published statements may be quoted without 
comment, omitting minor matters: 
In the year 1859 while exploring some tumuli in the vicinity of 
the Red House valley we found numerous singular and interest- 
ing relics, among which were spearheads 6 inches in length with 
double barbs composed of masses of native copper; also several 
blocks of mica which were in about the same condition as when 
chiseled from the granite of the Alleghany mountains. It was 
near this valley where was found one of the most interesting 
relics ever discovered among the works of the ancient inhabit- 
ants. It was a flat piece of copper, 6 inches in length by 4 in 
width, artistically wrought, with the form of an elephant repre- 
sented in harness engraved upon it, and a sort of breast collar, 
with tugs on either side, which extended past the hips. The 
great amount of copper implements and blocks of mica that 
have been found, contradicts the theory of Mr Squire, that 
the tumuli located in western New York are not the work 
of the mound builders. I am satisfied, beyond a doubt, that 
