776 The use of Copper by the Delaware Indians. {August, 
impure native copper found in this region, and not, therefore, 
metal derived from the Lake Superior region. 
When the Delaware and Raritan canal was dug, in 1832, there 
were found many skeletons of Indians during the course of the 
excavations. About the wrist bones of many were narrow bands 
of hammered copper, and some large crescent-shaped ornaments 
were also found. In one instance a grave was opened which con- 
tained a nodule of native copper weighing thirteen ounces. 
This information was derived from a gentleman who saw many 
of the objects mentioned, and who carefully examined the skele- 
tons and grave contents as they were brought to light. 
Although the specimens have long since been lost, their identi- 
fication as copper objects of Indian manufacture was carefully 
Fic. 2.—Copper celt from Trenton, New Jersey. 
| 
made ; and as this is information not readily obtained and has a 
distinct bearing upon the question of the use of copper among 
our Indians, it is worthy of being put upon record. 
In the many small collections of Indian relics made in different 
localities that I have examined, I find that one or more celts, 
spears, arrow-points, bracelets, rude beads or fragments of sheet 
copper are sure to be found, and a tabulation of these objects, 
and the information derived from correspondence, gives the fol- 
_ lowing results: 
Celts, 11; spears, 5; arrow-points, 8; bracelets, 13; beads, 
aes Eabitients of metal, 21; in all, 128 jects: When we con- 
_ sider how small a chance there i is of such objects being found, 
‘acs what a small proportion | of such as are recovered come to 
- ledge of , it is a most reasonable presump- 
