OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 47
hammered piece of copper, and weighs two pounds and five ounces. It is seven inches long by four broad at the cut- ting edge, and has an average thickness of little less than four-tenths of an inch. Its edge is slightly curved, some- what after the manner of the axes of the present day, and is bevelled from both surfaces. In size and shape it coin- cides very nearly with those possessed by the Mexicans and Peruvians, and was probably fastened and used in a similar way. Copper chisels, gravers, &c. have also been found in the mounds. The metal seems, however, to have been more generally applied to ornamental than useful pur- poses ; for, while articles of ornament are common in both the sacrificial and sepulchral mounds, copper implements are comparatively rare. It is possible that ornaments were more generally placed in the mounds than articles of use ; such certainly is the case in respect to the mounds of sepulture. Copper beads, bracelets, gorgets, &c. &c. are of frequent occurrence.
Silver has also been found, but in small quantities, reduced to great thinness, and closly wrapped around copper ornaments. This is done so skillfully as scarcely to be detected, and is the nearest approach to plating yet discovered. The ore of lead, galena, has been found in considerable abundance, and some of the metal itself under circumstances implying a knowledge of its use on the part of the ancient people. The discovery of gold has been vaguely announced, but is not well attested. It is not impossible that articles of that metal have been found, with other vestiges of European art, accompanying secondary and recent deposites; and it is far from impossible or even improbable, judging from the extensive intercourse which they seem to have maintained, that the metal may yet be disclosed under such circumstances as to justify the conclu- sion that it was not entirely unknown to the mound-builders. No iron or traces of iron have been discovered, except in connection with recent deposites; and there is no reason
