546 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Copper articles and objects preserved by copper 



With the exception of one specimen all copper articles came 

 from graves. An analysis of these articles by the mineralogist Mr 

 H. P. "Whitlock indicated that they were all of European copper. 

 The two arm bands contained traces of zinc. 



Most of the copper articles came from grave LI, pit 96, and a 

 description of them as they were found will be found under that 

 head. The two bracelets which encircled the arm of the skeleton 

 are shown in plate 37, figures i, 2. These bands yet retain upon 

 their corroded surfaces the impressions of the skin of the arm 

 against which they rested, although the pictures do not show them 

 well. Finger prints are noticeable on several of the rings and one 

 has the tactile impression on the inner side. Figures 5 and 10 of 

 plate 37 are of two rings which have these impressions upon them. 

 These rings are of the common rolled type made from bands of 

 sheet copper. The arm band fragment shown by plate 37, figure 4, 

 is a fine specimen of rolled copper work. 



In graves where copper was present the animal or vegetable mat- 

 ter in immediate contact was preserved by the copper salts. The 

 substances so preserved include wood, bark, herbs, deer hair, deer- 

 skin, thongs, human skin, flesh, bone, nails, hair and scalp fragments. 



Figure 3 in plate 37 is that of a rolled copper bead which yet 

 contains the skin thong. Pieces of bark and deerskin massed 

 together are pictured in plate 37, figure 7. The shreds of bark are 

 plainly visible but the skin does not show well. In the same plate 

 figure II is a piece of wood preserved by the salts of copper from 

 the ring that encircles the opening. The form of the object sug- 

 gests a false-face eye. Plate 37, figure 9, is that of a mass of 

 vegetable matter, possibly some herb or tobacco. 



Iron 



But few pieces of Iron were found. Of those discovered in 

 graves or ash pits none bore the semblance of finished or complete 

 utensils. In a few graves and in one ash pit short rectangular bars 

 were, found and with them chunks of flint, probably parts of fire- 

 making apparatus. In grave XCIII a portion of a small ax, adz 

 or chisel edge was found. It had been broken at a perforation. 



Carbonized substances 

 Vegetable matter preserved by carbonization was found in nearly 

 all of the ash pits but so crushed as to be unrecognizable. Charred 



