Red Metal, Domestic God: Prehistoric Copper Use in the Middle Atlantic Region

Summary

This is an abstract from the "From Hard Rock to Heavy Metal: Metal Tool Production and Use by Indigenous Hunter-Gatherers in North America" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Raw metals have been used by prehistoric peoples throughout the world. In the Middle Atlantic region of the United States, the most favored metal was copper. Copper objects of all kinds were seen as holding major religious and ceremonial significance. While there is evidence of Old Copper Culture artifacts in the region, it pales in comparison to evidence from the Early to the end of the Middle Woodland periods. This paper lays out my ongoing research on copper artifacts in the region and the uses and potential meanings of copper. Individual copper object types and measurement analysis are also described. I then show results of my sourcing studies and their implications on and interpretations for trade and exchange. Lastly, I present my thoughts on copper and its role in the participation of a mortuary ceremonialism program that may have originated from the north.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• From Hard Rock to Heavy Metal: Metal Tool Production and Use by Indigenous Hunter-Gatherers in North America   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 35707.0