Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at noon
Lake Superior’s Native Copper Industry: Archaic Copper Production Systems and Values in the Northern Lake Superior Basin*
This talk by Dr. Ryan Peterson discusses Archaic copper production systems in the northern Lake Superior Basin during the Nipissing high paleo-lake level event (4,000 to 6,000 years ago). I address three central themes: 1) the locations of copper production sites during the Archaic period, 2) the organization of copper production systems in the northern Lake Superior Basin, and 3) what the organization of copper production systems tells us about how people interact with and value metallurgical materials. I combine traditional archaeological methods and Indigenous knowledge systems, emphasizing collaboration with government agencies, research institutions, and private collectors. Geospatial and morphological analyses contribute to identifying and understanding copper production stages, while lead isotope analysis enhances source utilization patterns. I examine the relationship between the production and value of native copper to identify the impact of the organization of technological systems on human-metal relationships. I focus on people producing copper items by examining the technological and spatial relationship among production sites. By focusing on production sites, I address how humans, their material culture, and the environment interact through an assemblage to understand how value is embodied in the production system. I challenge conventional views of metallurgical development, asserting that copper working in the Great Lakes was a sophisticated and culturally relevant system, distinct from the trajectory of Old-World metallurgy.
Bio: Dr. Ryan Edward Peterson, a recent graduate from Indiana University Bloomington, stands at the forefront of archaeological exploration in the Upper Great Lakes region. Ryan's scholarship in archaeology unfolds a compelling narrative of the ancient copper working legacy in the Upper Great Lakes region over the past 6,000 years. Ryan seamlessly integrates traditional archaeological methodologies with advanced approaches like GIS and lead isotopes. His research focuses on unraveling the complexities of copper production systems among Archaic Hunter-Gatherers. On his creative site, Ryan is known for his dedication to recreating metalworking techniques and technologies from the past to understand what archaeologists see in the archaeological record. This includes hammering copper using stone tools and fire in a technique indigenous people used over the past 10,000 years. Beyond scholarly pursuits, Ryan actively engages with local communities through invited talks, imparting insights into Michigan's ancient copper mining history. Recognized for his academic excellence with awards and fellowships, Ryan stands as a visionary scholar contributing significantly to our understanding of prehistoric cultures in the Great Lakes region.
* Lunch provided, please RSVP to museumed@iu.edu.