Brass, Copper, and the Colonial Impact

Maxwell Sickler

At the  November 7 CCASM meeting Maxwell Sickler talked about an archaeological analysis of Native American copper and brass artifacts.  He indicated the sources of copper (mainly the Great Lakes region) used in artifacts from sites predating European contact.  He also compared the form of the copper artifacts recovered from pre-Contact sites in the Middle Atlantic to the form of the copper/brass artifacts recovered from sites dating after European contact.  The artifacts from these later sites included artifacts made from European brass, a copper alloy.  The talk concluded with a question-answer session.

Maxwell Sickler is a recent graduate of St Marys College of Maryland and is currently working with Julia King on an archaeological investigation related to the Rappahannock.

Attendance: 14

Piscataway Mini Pow-Wow

On Friday November 2 a Mini-Pow-Wow was held at the Piscataway Cultural Center in Waldorf.  Claude Bowen, former Archeology of Maryland, Inc (ASM) President and current member of the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs, was invited to have a table at the event.  And since Claude is interested in archaeology,  he asked two others (Carol from CCASM and Lynne from Mid-Potomac Chapter ) to participate. 

Much of the event was indoors. And there were lots of people, especially lots of children.   In addition to learning about archaeology, there were brochures and activities at the National Park Service table and the opportunity to actually see someone preparing river clay to make pottery in the traditional way.  And attendees could also participate in dancing the Robin Dance and the Snake Dance.    Here are some of those attending at the ASM tables as well as others dancing the Robin Dance.

Beside CCASM Displays

Looking at Native American artifacts

Lynne's Pottery Display

Robin Dance

Other activities were outdoors.  In addition to the pottery display Lynne brought atlatls and a deer target.  So outside there was atlatl throwing as well as axe throwing at the deer target in front of hay bales.  (Sorry no pictures.)

And we have to include this last picture of a little boy that spent a lot of time looking at books describing projectile points.  He preferred the drawings of points over the photos.

It was an enjoyable day talking with people about archaeology and learning more about the Piscataways.