Metalwork
At a glance:
- Series: American Indians Ready Reference
- Categories: Arts, Social Science
- Subcategories: Native Americans, American Indians, Crafts
- Curriculum: American Indian History
- Geographical Location: United States
Article abstract: Copper and, more recently, silver, have been used extensively for Indian ornamentation
The earliest examples of metals being used in North America date to around 4000 b.c.e. In the Great Lakes region, pieces of native copper were gathered and hammered into lance points and decorative or ritual objects. Archaeologists have discovered necklace beads composed of thin copper strips and fish-shaped pieces fashioned from the same metal during this era. These so-called Old Copper culture people did not practice true metallurgy, since the native metal...
[The entire page is 404 words long]