4.1.3 Metal

Michael Barnes

NATIVE COPPER

Native Copper was a common material utilized in tool-making among northeastern Aboriginal Peoples. This material was extracted from Native copper deposits of Lake Superior and had a high economic value in prehistoric trade. Specimen 97-24, unearthed from unit 487/190 represents the only fragment of native copper in this assemblage. This artifact does not have a recognizable shape to it, but appears to have been flattened. It measures 42.9mm in maximum length, 21.64mm at maximum width and 4.6mm in maximum thickness. Wright states that "hammered nodules" of native copper represent the beginning stage of manufacture into implements such as awls, chisels, and punches. The reader is directed to page 21, Colour Plate II of Wright's Ontario Prehistory (1972). Here, are examples of flattened or hammered nodules of native copper bearing similar characteristics to artifact 97-24. These nodules, when flattened, seem to take no particular shape, as is the case with this specimen.

97-24, CbGu-1

Cross Site Comparison

Native copper is found in many Ontario Aboriginal sites. It was a common item included as "grave goods" such as those found at the south part of Lake Nipigon. These included socketed dart and lance heads, socketed knives, awls, chisels, punches, bossed bracelets, and disc pendants (Wright, 1972:20).

The date of this artifact is not known as the soil profiles in unit 487/190 were disturbed, and there were no associated artifacts surrounding the find. Similar "hammered nodules" have been found on Lake Nipigon, and dated to 1500 B.C. (Wright 1972:20).

One tinkle cone was found from 1992 surface collections at the North Bank site. The material used to manufacture this artifact was probably brass or copper, from trade kettles. Further analysis of this artifact would be difficult since it has been found in secondary contact. However, tinkle cones have been found at the LaVase Island site, and was most likely discarded from the North Bank or LaVase Island Site occupants.

4.1.4 Red Ochre

Red Ochre is the constituent pigment created from ironized hematite. Walker, (1967) has listed critical factors necessary in the formation of this hematite pigment:

1. the occurrence of iron-bearing detrital grains.
2. post-depositional conditions that favour intrastratal alteration of the iron-bearing grains.
3. interstitial eH-pH environment that favours formation of ferrous oxides
4. absence of subsequent reduction of the ferric iron. (Walker: 366).

The presence of these conditions is noted throughout the Americas and Europe. Some of the earliest discoveries of ochre have been from Upper Palaeolithic cave art in Europe. These sites date back to c.17000 BP, and show evidence of “iron ochre” which can occur in yellow and red, as well as black manganese dioxide (Mellars, 1994:71).

The North Bank site produced 24 “nodules” of red ochre. Nodules measure between 1 to 14mm in diameter and display obvious characteristics of this natural pigment (as was evident to a surprised excavator with red stained hands). Other nodules (such as catalogue number 97-80) were not as obvious. Some excavators would catalogue such fragments as “red or orange rocks”. Upon examination of these fragments, the author became aware that they were in fact red ochre fragments. The nodules were hardened, and orange to pink in colour. It became apparent that the only way to determine if, in fact, they were fragments of red ochre, was to break a section off. In most cases this test showed that the inner core of the nodule did in fact bear the same typical characteristics of red ochre. The nature of these hardened specimens is problematic. It is speculated that either the nodules themselves were not of typical red ochre quality and were quarried as such or that the nodules have been thermally altered.

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