The stone age in North America, vol. 2 of 2Moorehead, Warren K. (Warren King)
History
The stone age in North America, vol. 2 of 2
Moorehead, Warren K. (Warren King)
Indians of North America -- Antiquities; Stone age -- North America
Large numbers have been collected in Wisconsin, and others will probably
be found as old sites are more thoroughly explored, and new lands opened
to cultivation. The existing examples appear to have been obtained, for
the most part, from the village-sites and graves, where they sometimes
occur in association with copper beads and other articles of personal
adornment. But very few have been recovered from the burial-mounds of
the state.
A few have also been found in Minnesota, northern Michigan, and
Illinois. The finest series of these copper crescents, representing
nearly all of the known types, is in the H. P. Hamilton collection. The
following is a brief description of the Wisconsin types of copper
crescents:—
1. One of the simplest, although uncommon forms, has the upper edge
quite straight and the lower ones broadly curved. Specimens have been
found in Manitowoc County, and in Houghton County, Michigan.
[Illustration:
FIG. 622. (S. 2–3.) Mica ornament. Hopewell Group.
]
2. A closely allied type has both edges curved, approaching more nearly
the true crescent form. The degree of curvature varies considerably in
the small number of specimens known. Specimens have been found in
Washington, Sheboygan, Marquette, Crawford, and Barron counties.
Minnesota has produced several specimens: one from Monroe County, having
both extremities notched to allow for suspension. (Fig. 611.)
3. A third type, the so-called “canoe-shaped” crescent, usually has its
lower and upper edges curving equally and formed at the extremities into
a short point or embryo prong, directed inward. This is the most
frequent Wisconsin type, and examples of it are to be seen in many
collections. The largest and finest example now known (10 × 2¼ inches,
weight 20 ounces) is in the Hamilton collection, and was found in the
city of Oconto, Oconto County. Michigan and Minnesota have also yielded
a number of specimens. (See Fig. 611.)
4. A fourth type has the prongs or points at the extremities of greater
length and directed upward or inward. Specimens have been found in
Calumet, Door, Sheboygan, and Marquette counties. They vary in length
from five to seven and one half inches. (One in Fig. 568.)
5. In a fifth type the prolongations, arising from the extremities of
the upper edge of the curved base, approach each other and unite to form
a central spike, which is usually circular in section and formed by the
prolongations being twisted about each other. Specimens have been
obtained in Price, Manitowoc, Green Lake, Waukesha, Washington, and
Columbia counties. One has been found in Minnesota. (Fig. 614, specimen
D.)
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