COPPERS FOUND IN THE UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN

I have been metal detecting for Gold for about 6 or 7 years now, mostly around the Stanton/Rich Hill area. A little around Lynx Creek and even the Quartzsite Area. All in Arizona. Now I have to admit that I am not a pro by any means. If I find a nugget now and then I'm happy. Most of the time I go out and 20 minutes later, after digging junk, I'm done. Now I have found some interesting things over the years.

A couple of years ago while out camping I learned about the Copper Artifacts from a winter visitor from Michigan. This intrigued me and after seeing them I knew I just had to make the journey to seek them out myself. I guess it was something about the uniqueness of them, or maybe the rarity. But since I was invited to come out I knew I just had to do so. So I grabbed my Minelab, GP3000, booked my flight, car rental, hotel room and off I went.

The next day I was picked up at my hotel room and after being sworn to secrecy about the place we were going off we went. I was blind folded. (I might as well have been since all I saw were trees and water everywhere.)

After arriving to the spot, which took about an hour to get there, I put on my backpack, grabbed my detector, digging tools and off I went. It only took about 10 minutes and I found my first one. "Yahoo,"  I shouted! I was surprised that these artifacts were all over the place. Most of them were down about 8 to 9 inches. Some less and some more. I was also finding copper nuggets. They were everywhere I was convinced.

From what I have learned this copper was first discovered, mined and fashioned into tools, weapons and ornaments by the indigenous peoples of the region. Alot of the pieces I had found were just, "blanks", or "bars." Meaning they were pounded, or worked, to someday be made into something.  One day I was in an area where these pieces were everywhere. It must have been the factory or workshop of the area. Hell I don't know. These people I guess had nothing else to do but pound copper and make things all day long.

As copper becomes brittle when pounded repeatedly, it must be heated to a red-hot state before it can be worked again. Modern experimentation with this process has shown that as many as 30 pound-anneal cycles are necessary to produce some tools. Once formed, tools requiring a sharp edge or point could be honed using sandstones or other abrasive flat stone surfaces.

Now the Artifacts were In the Great Lakes Region from the Archaic Period which spanned from about 6500-1000 BC or 8500-3000BP (Before Present), and to think these goodies are all over the place. I was hooked and after about 4 hours I was tired and sore but couldn't wait to go back out the next day. I was hooked.

Now I have seen pictures from some other collections that only amazes me. Several hundreds of these in fact. I'll show all the coppers that I found and then I'll show anothers collection.

Yes, a treasure worth more than Gold? Maybe.

I know that when my trip is up I will hate to leave. It amazes me to think these coppers have been lying in the ground all this time. Once held and worked by those of the past.

Well, untill the next time I go out.......................

After my 4th time out looking for these artifacts I was about worked over. We detected about 6 hours aday. I still have afew more days to go.

The more I work the more I seem to find. However, at the end of the day I feel like hell................ At least all worn out!

Just walking all over the woods listing for those sounds.........

Alot of time is spent swinging the detector. The last two days; about 11 hours worth. One might ask if it's all worth it.................................................................................................

I would have to say, Yes.

My trip here will come to end soon and then it's back into the heat. So I must make good use of my time because I don't know when I'll get another chance to search further.

Well, those are all the coppers I found. All put in a nice case and ready to be displayed.

I'll be awaiting for the next time I go back for more. Which will be soon.............................

Now here are some coppers that my Guide, Bill Has found over the years. He is asking $50,000.00 for all of his. CLICK HERE TO SEE THOSE