Old Copper Culture

A series of late Archaic complexes in the upper Great Lakes area of the United States and Canada which settled there approximately 5,000 years ago. This culture of hunters and fishermen did not have pottery and agriculture, but the people mined native copper around Lake Superior and used it to make tools. The metal was worked by hot- and cold-hammering and by annealing. Characteristic copper implements were spear points, knives, awls, and atlatl weights. Its best-known assemblages are from Osceola and Ocanto. Later cultures did not develop metal technology, but reverted to stone use. There is general agreement that 1500 BC represents the terminal date.

Unique middle/late Archaic development occurring in the Great Lakes region of Wisconsin and Michigan, USA. Characterized by hammered and annealed copper implements (such as spear points, knives, awls and atlatl weights) its best-known assemblages are from Osceola and Ocanto. Made from surface deposits of natural copper found locally, these implements were fashioned in imitation of contemporary stone tools. Later cultures, in fact, did not develop metal technology, but reverted to stone use. Radiocarbon dates for the beginning of this culture are the subject of some argument with 5556 ± 600 be being less favoured than the more conservative 3646 ± 600 be. There is general agreement that 1500 be represents the terminal date.