No matter where you are you can reach down and find a rock that is workable into a very sharp and capable tool for the task in just half an hour.
I believe you are mistaken.
The Aztecs smelted metal, and were on the edge of figuring out bronze.
The Incas knew about bronze, and used it for a few things.
There are many places where rocks suitable to take an edge are difficult to find. Flint and obsidian mines existed in both the old and new world. Good quality rock was traded long distances.
Technology and intelligence are not the same and should not be confused. From my study, people had to be smart and capable to survive with the lower levels of technology.
” The Aztecs smelted metal, and were on the edge of figuring out bronze.
The Incas knew about bronze, and used it for a few things.”
Absolutely true. But it was not the normal case with North American Natives as I noted. Which is odd considering the availability and disappearance of all the Great Lakes “native” Copper that did not require smelting. The locals there used it a bit of course, but even though other items were traded across the continent, none of it is found across the rest of the continent.
As much as was mined it should have been everywhere in every village across the continent. But all that copper that disappeared is another whole story in it’s self. Also true was that South American tribes did indeed trade with the Northern Tribes. Evidence of Cocoa and other South American resources have been found in the north yet still no common prevalent use of metal in the north.
But long ago this reality lead me to the logical theory that it was just more convenient to reach down and knap a rock anywhere they were without being dependent on a whole manufacturing process and/or trade network.
“Technology and intelligence are not the same and should not be confused. From my study, people had to be smart and capable to survive with the lower levels of technology.”
Absolutely, and it is more stable in the longer term. Look at us... We are about to destroy ourselves with technology. In reality how intelligent is that? Yet when we do there are more primitive cultures around the world who will never even know it happened, it will not affect them one bit, they will continue on long after we are gone. Similar with the Amish and Mennonites. If we do not take it away from them, they will continue on as they always have. :)