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Old Copper Complex

Some of the oldest metal implements in the World were produced during the Old Copper Complex era. These copper using Indigenous people flourished throughout the Great Lakes region of North America. During the Archaic time period these people hammered numerous tools from native copper. This region of the World is rich with 99.9% pure copper veins & ancient hand dug mine pits. "Float copper"usually found South of Lake Superior, deposited there by ancient glaciers, which was likely the first-used copper before the mining of veins & ore began. Using the readily available surface source, Old Copper Culture people in time became journeyman coppersmiths. From an estimated time period of 6,480 B.C. to 1,200 B.C. tens of thousands of red metal tools & weapons were produced. Using only primitive working tools & the use of fire for annealing purposes these coppersmiths manufactured unique finished implements with such precision that even modern day metalsmiths find them hard to duplicate. This lost trade technology was used to create hunting & spearing projectiles along with daily implements for survival during harsh ancient times. Copper has been used throughout the ages in which some of these pieces pre-date the "Pyramids of Egypt". Columbus has been given credit for discovering new America which has overshadowed the Indigenous people & their implements of old Pre-Historic America.These pages are provided to make viewers aware of the different identities of ancient hammered copper for when they are found they can be recognized as such.  Photo additions & articles are welcome for further education of viewers & to retain copper implement history. TreasureDigs.com provides a Gallery avenue for these incredible "Works of Art" for your viewing pleasre.