Use-Wear Analysis on Copper and Brass Material
from the Thompson-Walker Site (ca. 1600 - 1650)


Paul Thibaudeau and Dr. Martha A. Latta
Scarborough College, University of Toronto
Scarborough, Ontario

Abstract:  There have been numerous accounts of Native peoples using copper 
and brass gained through trade with the Europeans as kettles for cooking or 
to break up and use for constructing tools and/or ornaments. While it is 
assumed that these served as tools as well as trade and grave goods, there 
has not been any real attempt to analyze these pieces for use wear traces. 
This paper shall focus on copper and brass material from the Thomson-Walker 
site (ca. 1600 - 1650) and subject these pieces to use wear analysis at a 
low level for abrasion detail and then at a high level (200 - 400 x) for 
polish residue. This will be corroborated with experimental data to 
understand what these "discarded pieces of scrap" were really used for. It 
is postulated that these tools are in fact expedient tools that were likely 
made quickly and used briefly. The aim of this research is to better 
understand the workings.