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To: 1010RD

They used gold, silver, and copper, and probably meteoritic iron (I forget), but apparently only for decorative items, despite the fact that there was non-stop internecine warfare throughout PreColumbian America. The copper extracted in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan prior to the (documented) European presence exceeded the known use, until it was found in recent decades that the copper in Mexico and Central America originated in Michigan, at least as often as not. Big trade networks, just like everywhere else on Earth.

Stone blades (arrows, spears, hatchets, knives) work well, and can be re-edged for continuous use for perhaps years or more. They are more effective than the metals (other than the possible meteoritic iron) when hunting or in combat, and the armor reported by Bernal Diaz (”Conquest of New Spain”, last surviving member of Cortez’ expedition) was made of cotton. IOW, stone worked, the metals they knew didn’t work as well.

If one PreColumbian culture had discovered, say, bronze, it is not yet known, and the impact of that discovery would surely have been felt by other cultures and observed by the conquistadors and whatnot.


28 posted on 04/28/2014 7:33:18 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

I wonder, actually I believe, it had more to do with culture. Something in their culture was holding them back. They built enormous cities, roads, had cement and other innovations, but left it at that. Some way of thinking was limiting them, I believe.


30 posted on 04/28/2014 7:48:41 PM PDT by 1010RD (First, Do No Harm)
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