Speaker Examines Prehistoric Copper of the Lake Superior Region
The story of ancient copper working in the Lake Superior basin and the
social lives of the prehistoric peoples of Isle Royale will be topics
of the next Archival Speakers Series presentation at the MTU Archives
and Copper Country Historical Collections. The presentation is scheduled
for Thursday, February 15, 2001 at 4:00 p.m. in the Archives Reading Room
on the third floor of the Van Pelt Library.
Susan Martin, professor in Michigan Tech's Department of Social Sciences,
will detail her research into native prehistoric peoples that once inhabited
the Upper Great Lakes and their use of the region's uncommon natural resource,
the pure metallic copper occurring along the Keweenaw Peninsula and Isle
Royale. These ancient people discovered this copper thousands of years
ago and made it a central part of their lives, their technologies and
their spiritual beliefs. Many of their ancient copper mining pits were
subsequently developed into the Keweenaw's greatest modern copper mines.
Martin has extensive experience with archeological sites throughout the
Lake Superior basin and her recently-published book, Wonderful Power,
has become the standard source for reliable information on ancient copper
culture. In addition to discussing the archeological evidence which survives
from this early society, Martin will explain how such artifacts inform
our understanding of the social lives and contacts of the Isle Royale
native people in prehistory.
The Archival Speakers Series is designed to highlight current research
utilizing the Archives' collections. The MTU Archives, a department of
the J. Robert Van Pelt Library, hosts a wide variety of researchers and
research topics -- everything from genealogical investigations to book
and magazine publications -- engaging students, staff, and faculty, as
well as local citizens and other off-campus researchers. The presentation
is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends
of the Van Pelt Library.
Forthcoming presentations in the series will include an April 9 talk
by former state historic preservation officer Kathryn Eckert on sandstone
architecture of the Lake Superior region, as well as summer lectures by
recipients of the annual MTU Archives Research Travel Award.
For further information contact the MTU Archives at (906) 487-2505 or
via e-mail at copper@mtu.edu.
