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length and four in breadth, perforated with two holes. This 
is one of the so-called "gorgets." These ornaments are 
frequently found, but usually with inhumed burials. Copper 
"gorgets" are generally about the thickness of ordinary 
sheet copper, and are usually perforated with two holes, 
placed at equal distances from the ends, and somewhat above 
the longitudinal centre. This circumstance, and the fact 
that they are almost always found with skeletons, has led to 
the idea that they were personal ornaments, perhaps worn 
suspended around the neck, resting upon the breast. There is 
one circumstance, however, that seems inconsistent with this 
conclusion, namely, that none of the holes exhibit the slightest 
elongation from wear. On the contrary, their edges are as 
sharp as if newly cut. Such would scarcely have been the case 
with articles of this soft material, and of such thinness, had 
they been suspended in the manner suggested. The holes in 
the little silver crosses, found in the graves of the modern 
Indians, are frequently worn so much as to be nearly a fourth of 
an inch in length ; and yet they weigh less than half an ounce, and 
are cut out of thicker plates of metal than the copper "gorgets." 
Either the " gorgets," if used for the purpose suggested, were 
worn only on extraordinay occasions, or they were suspended in 
such a manner that there was an absence of friction at the 
holes. 
Ribaulde, who visited the shores of Florida, in 1562, speaks 
of a chief who " had hanging about his neck a round plate of 
red copper well polished, with one other lesser one of silver in 
the midst of it, and at his ear a little plate of copper, where- 
with they used to stripe the swete from theyer bodyes." Sir 
Walter Raleigh mentions that the tribes with which he held 
communication on the shores of North Carolina wore copper 
plates on their heads, which were badges of authority, and 
distinguished the chiefs. These plates were so highly polished 
that they were at first mistaken for gold. It is not impossible 
that the specimens found in the mounds were worn in a like 
manner by the ancient people. No. 1 1 was found beneath the 
head of the skeleton with which it was buried. Associated 
with it was the pipe, No. 12. The tool marks are plainly to be 
seen upon this specimen. 
No. 15, Case C 38, is a " gorget," consisting of a thin plate 
of hammered copper, with one hole near the centre; it was 
found in a mound near " Clark's Work." 
