Old copper (Historic) and really old copper (Archaic)

[clovisoid]

The bulk of my collection is in storage while we live overseas, but I have bought a few things and had them shipped to my sisters house.

These Old Copper items were all found by Roger Mussatti in a couple of counties in Wisconsin & Michigan. I was able to create one keeper frame, and then another study frame.

[clovisoid]

Here is the other frame. Lots of hammered copper, some simple points, pieces of larger tools, etc.

[clovisoid]

This second group are from the Loitwood collection and are historic trade items found at Mandan sites in South Dakota.

The points would have been cut from copper items by Natives. The second frame includes beads and tinkler cones for adornment.

[Lindenmeier-Man]

Wow, and I don’t say that lightly ! I’m so happy to see this collection... This is beyond museum quality ! TY for preserving this history Sir !

[willjo]

Really nice collection, I don't see anything like that down my way.

[clovisoid]

I grew up on the fringe of the copper zone, and found a couple of small chunks but nothing clearly worked. Metal detectorists are really the only ones who put together self found collections.

[chase]

Very nice just awesome thanks for sharing.

[Ron Kelley]

Hey Joshua, Thanks for sharing the pictures. That's an awesome copper collection.

[Kentucky point]

That is amazing! Just a killer collection of points. How did they make them? Did they cast them, or pound them, or something?

[clovisoid]

Pound them, and heat them but not to the point of melting the copper.

[Kentucky point]

Ah, that's what I'm doing wrong. I'm trying to melt it, but nothing I have goes up to 1,900 degrees. Thanks.

[clovisoid]

Yup, annealing copper is done at much more reasonable fire temps and you don’t need to handle molten metal. Copper will work fine with a hammer, but eventually gets brittle and is prone to breaking.

Hammer it until it’s brittle, toss it in a fire, hammer it again once you can handle it again, repeat until you have the shape you want.

There is some debate still, some of the tools are hard to replicate with just annealing.

[gregszybala]

Nice pickup on all! Thanks for sharing them.

[Hoss]

You have an awesome collection Joshua . I am amazed at some of the artifacts and knowledge you have shared with us over the years.

[Sage hen jack]

Amazing array of Copper Artifacts my friend 👍

[kayakaddict]

That's a whole museum. Amazing... thank you

[Kyflintguy]

Beautiful collection of copper artifacts! Thanks for sharing!

[2ndoldman]

Thank you for sharing this collection. I was very lucky to have found my first copper artifacts back in June. Hopefully there will be many more to follow.

[tomclark]

Holy Cow!!! Mind is blown. Thx for sharing those. I have two "Kaskaskia" points from a midden Pinellas Co, FL..should date from before the relocation of the Seminole Tribe.. Another was found by a friend. Kinda pitiful looking but were examined by IAWARE local historical and research center and not found lacking lol