Science explains ancient copper artifacts

Northwestern University ^ | June 13, 2011 | Unknown

[decimon]

In for a pound ping.

[almost done by half]

“From the size, shape and features of the grains inside the copper, we determined that the coppersmiths were likely hammering the copper, probably with a heavy rock, then putting the copper in the hot coals of a wood fire for five to 10 minutes to soften it and repeating the cycle until they had created a thin sheet of copper. “

Say what? What did they think they had a foundry? Rock science indeed!

[gundog]

They musta been happy when we introduced trains and pennies.

[Sacajaweau]

Yeh, what were the other choices?? A Ninja machine?? A moula machine?? A meat grinder? A pizzelle machine??

Wow....Who would have thunk!!

[NativeSon]

Brown, also an international expert on Native American archeology.

"international expert" ? I guess that's important since we AI's traveled the globe and established prehistoric American Indian colonies.

The modern plague of American Indians - archaeologists & anthropologists.

[almost done by half]

I wonder if these two clowns got their Phd’s for this awesome study? What is next, how flint arrows were made?

[Sacajaweau]

Flint arrows was yesterday.

[almost done by half]

There wasn't one pigeon or parakeet able to fly in my neighborhood when my buddies and I all needed a feather for our Indian Guides headdress growing up. ;-)

[dangerdoc]

This would be an excelent doctoral thesis project. The whole point is illuminate something new.

It’s got to be better than trying to come up with a new doctoral thesis on Shakespear.

[hellbender]

There is no native copper in the Cahokian region. Presumably it came from the deposits in Upper Michigan, showing that long-distance trade was going on in those days, when there were no highways or railroads. Really remarkable.

[Free Vulcan]

I was under the understanding that most archaeologists wouldn’t even admit that Indians used copper to make weapons. This is the first I’ve read of this.

[decimon]

I was under the understanding that most archaeologists wouldn’t even admit that Indians used copper to make weapons. This is the first I’ve read of this.

I don't know but this doesn't mention weapons, anyway.

[Wuli]

“showing that long-distance trade was going on in those days, when there were no highways or railroads. Really remarkable.”

No highways - just the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio & Tennessee rivers, and then Lake Michigan itself, - just to mention a few non-highways that were well traveled “back in the day”.

http://www.mapsofworld.com/north-america/rivers-and-lake.html

[Wuli]

Most of what I read before on this topic seemed to represent one of two extremes - they couldn’t have done it themselves, or they had some fantastic science/knowledge modern people don’t know about.

That makes this report actually modest and sensible. At last.

[SunkenCiv]

• America's Forgotten City
• Cahokia's Woodhenge: a supprising implication [sic]
• Copper men: Archaeologists uncover Stone Age copper workshop near Monk's Mound
• Human sacrifice! Archaeologist creates stir with new book on Cahokia Mounds
• Much Still To Be Learned About Cahokia Mounds
• Swansea woman donates birdman tablet to Mounds[Illinois]
• Birdman Tablet Discovered during Excavations at the East Lobe of Monks Mound [1971]
• The Lost City of Cahokia
• New technique helps solve mystery of ancient figurines (Cahokia)
• Ancient Illinois Village Unearths Lode Of Questions
• A Stone Pyramid At Cahokia, Illinois

[SunkenCiv]

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[afraidfortherepublic]

Gee whiz. When my husband was a freshman at Northwestern Engineering school in materials science, he made 2 hammers. I still use them.

[patton]

The scissors part was odd - but it seems they switched to matal fatigue, which is entirely believable.

[Free Vulcan]

Ha! Looks like a little cross-contamination from another article I was reading at the same time.

Some days I wonder about myself.