We are continuing to pursue the first people in our area from pre-historic time. The history is just now being written. From where did they come? When?

Where did proto-history Great Lakes copper go? To the Bronze Age.

We have found that geologists, linguists, epigraph investigators, historians, archaeologists, astronomers, and academics have validated that the Great Lakes copper mining was one of the first, if not the first, on the planet. The copper transported across the Atlantic for thousands of years. Epigraphs from Canada to the Arkansas River document the trade. Harvard, Brown, and Texas in the United States as well as universities in New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain supported the research. Museums across North America, South America, Europe, and Middle East have contributed.

Several fascinating points arise from that list, which is just excerpts and far from complete. First, just going through the pages of people and organizations involved is fascinating. Second, getting that many groups involved and cooperating is a monumental task indeed. Third, the diversity of skills and spectrum of specialties involved is mind-boggling.

The level of talent, variety of education, and range of experience in the project creates an interesting synergy of opinions. Still, a linguist from Denmark, an epigraphic scientist from Harvard, and geologist from Michigan come to similar conclusions.

Yet how many are aware of the advanced technology of the Original Americans ca 3900 BCE and the routine navigation between Europe to the Great Lakes or Mediterranean up the Mississippi / Ouachita / Arkansas River basin?

Why is understanding this heritage important? It begins to explain the diversity of the Native Americans and the roots of their languages with European and Asian dialects. It lays to rest the assumption that a few ‘original savages’ crawled out of a cave and walked over from Asia. Some adventurers did, but the multiplicity of origins is so much greater.

The affirmation of these researchers, as in other cases, creates a challenge to tradition. “Fiddler on the Roof” with its celebrated tune “Tradition, tradition!” well illustrates the problem. When tradition is challenged, the core of being is under siege. People and society follow traditions because ‘it is what they know.’

Some type reaction is inevitable. Only a few early adopters evaluate the new data, analyze the information, and accept the new hypothesis. Most react with ‘so-what, that does not affect me’ even if it does. The remaining are defensive. Seldom can they address the new research on technical grounds. So, their reaction to a new paradigm is ‘ad homonym’ statements against the researcher.

Research scientists, by definition, are multiple-disciplinary. Research involves crossing fields to see what is known somewhere else that fits the data for the present problem. Often their education is very broad, rather than focused. Based on my first degree, my refrain is, ‘I am an engineer by degree, and a research scientist by education, training, and experience.’ That is my job.

Most people fit the same framework, you may have a business degree, but are a builder. Nevertheless, ad homonym reactions to new paradigms still retort against the person, not to the technology of the information.

So, when assessing technically validated new concepts, such as those proposed by the constellation of intellects in the first paragraphs, look at the information. The constellation invested their time, energy, and resources to solve a problem. Naysayers seldom have a credible basis for their position.

‘You attack the person, when you have nothing else.’

In the words of the psychologically thoughtful writer, Leo Tolstoy, “When ignorance does not know something, it says that what it does not know is stupid.”

History covers such a long period of time, variety of locations, and assortment of activities that historians do not try to cover all, but focus on a limited zone.

Because of the natural deposition of materials, every extraction of natural resources is unique. The copper ore of Michigan is different from Sinai, Anatolia, or Serbia. Other trace metals, such as silver, give a fingerprint of the ore source. The copper ore from the Lake Superior region is among the purest in the world, requiring much less processing to obtain usable copper. This fact provides traceability of copper to other locations.

Archaeology of Native Americans show that although they used copper, they in no way used as much as came from the ground in North America. The size and quantity of mines was too much for domestic use. The ancient industry was active from ca 4000 BCE to 1200 BCE.

Put that time frame in perspective. The pre-history Original Americans produced copper longer than the equivalent time from the Classic Greeks to the Romans, through Anglo and Norman merging, by the Crusades, on to Columbus followed by the experiment in freedom of the American Revolution until today.

We have looked at ancient times. In the more modern era, Lake Superior mines have continued to be one of the largest suppliers in the world.

Where did all the ancient copper go, if not used locally? The era was the Bronze Age for a reason. Bronze is an alloy of copper with tin. The early civilization of the world was dependent on bronze.

Think about, what do we know concerning copper mining, metal use, and civilization development. Why does North and South American not have an ancient history? Why is Western ancient history anchored in the Eastern Mediterranean?