34 CERTAIN SAND MOUNDS OF 



all superficial, Ave have found copper in but two mounds of the St. John's River, in 

 both cases scattered from the base to within a short distance of the surface. 



That the Indians of what are now our Northern States made use of copper in 

 pre-Columbian times is gainsaid by none. 



That, ignorant of the art of reduction from the ore, they called into requisi- 

 tion native copper, and that this native copper, found in sufficient quantity in the 

 Lake Superior region only, consists of the pure metal with occasional admixture of 

 metallic silver, is generally admitted. 



That the Indians of our Southern States were in possession of a certain 

 amount of copper at a period too early to account for its acquisition under the 

 hypothesis of barter with, or plunder from, the whites is indicated by the early 

 chronicles. 



The source of supply of this southern copper has not been definitely shown. 



Careful examination of the western mounds shows the implements of copper 

 to have been hammered into shape, and the sheet copper at times to have been 

 produced by rolling between stones. Now in these same mounds are found drink- 

 ing cups wrought from the Fulgur perversum, with beads and pins fashioned from 

 the axes of great marine univalves native to the southern coast. The presumption 

 that such objects were obtained by barter seems allowable enough and one would 

 naturally look for copper from the western territory in the mounds of, or near, 

 those localities from where the implements of shell were derived. 1 In point of 

 fact, objects of copper, either of, or resembling, the western type, have been found 

 in certain Southern States and have been described as of native copper from 

 Lake Superior, though presumably without the requisite analysis. A complete 

 investigation by chemical tests might reveal the material to be as stated, and would 

 certainly enhance, in any event, the interest attached to the copper. Certain 

 writers, moreover, seem to consider the evidence of malleability displayed by the 

 copper described by them as indicative of native metal. In point of fact, any 

 fairly pure copper though reduced from the ore, could with perfect readiness be 

 hammered into shape. In such matters too many precautions cannot be taken, 

 and in making deductions " it is well to beware of the expected." 



Specimens of copper from Mt. Royal were submitted by us to Messrs. Booth, 

 Garrett & Blair of Philadelphia. The result of the analysis made by Mr. Garrett 

 is given herewith : 



" The piece of copper, ' from an Indian mound,' which you left with us a short 

 time ago, yielded to our analysis : 



Copper, . . . . . 9 9 "25 8 per cent. 

 Lead, ..... 0758 per cent. 



1 For the results of investigation in such localities see : C. C Jones, op. cit. pp. 226, et seq., and 232, et seq. 



Thruston, op. cit. pp. 25, 79, 169. 



Eleventh Annual Report, Peabody Museum, p. 307 ; also Fifteenth Annual Report, Peabody Museum. 



Joseph Jones, M. D., "Exploration of the Aboriginal Remains of Tennessee," pp. 8, 45, 59, 136, 137. 



Fifth Annual Report, Bureau of Ethnology, p. 101 et seq. 



Rau, " The Archaeological Collection of the "United States National Museum," p. 59, et seq- 



