Indigenous Mining

Among the dead stuffs of nature, the dwellers on Lake Superior seem to feel the most superstitious reverence for copper, which is so often found on the surface-soil in a remarkable state of purity. They frequently carry small pieces of copper ore about with them in their medicine-bags; they are carefully wrapped up in paper, handed down from father to son, and wonderful power is ascribed to them.

-Johann Georg Kohl, 1859

Charles Whittlesey's Map of Ancient Mine Pits, 1862

Whittlesey, Charles. Ancient Mining on the Shores of Lake Superior. (Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1863; Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, no. 155)

Glaciers encased this region in ice for thousands of years. Soon after the icesheets retreated, Indigenous people began exploring the Lake Superior basin, settling the area around 8,000 years ago. Oral tradition and archaeological research indicate that they began mining the Keweenaw’s copper deposits as early as 8,000 years ago and on Isle Royale only slightly later some 6,500 years ago, making these two land masses home to some of the world’s oldest metal mines.

“An ancient people extracted copper from the veins of Lake Superior…”

Charles Whittlesey 1863

Charles Whittlesey was a surveyor in the 1860s and documented what he saw on the ground, but he didn’t have all the information he needed to identify who these “ancient people” were. In fact, if you were to read his quote in full, it would say: “An ancient people extracted copper from the veins of Lake Superior of whom history gives no account.” Although Whittlesey did not know it, history (and archaeology) actually does give an account: the earliest miners were the ancestors of today’s American Indians.

How do we know this?

Archaeologists use the scientific method to document archaeological sites. When artifacts and features are found, they use different methods (like radio-carbon dating) to determine their age. They can identify the different cultural groups who created them by comparing them with other scientifically recovered artifacts from other sites. Geology, paleobotany, oral tradition, and historic records add to the data that researchers can use to learn more about ancient sites.

Archaeologists know that all the precontact artifacts uncovered from the Keweenaw and Isle Royale are Indigenous in origin, because they reflect patterns, workmanship, and style of North American Indigenous groups. They don’t match European artifacts.

Oral tradition and historical sources are consistent with the archaeological data.

*The following map points are approximations to help protect the resources.*

NPS | Source: Airbus,USGS,NGA,NASA,CGIAR,NLS,OS,NMA,Geodatastyrelsen,GSA,GSI and the GIS User Community

Two people stand over an Indigenous pit on Isle Royale.

NPS photo

Siskowit Mine

Originally located by the Isle Royale Mining Co. in 1844, and then reincorporated under the Siskowit Mining Co. in 1848, evidence of Indigenous mining was observed almost immediately. In fact, these occurrences are some of the first noted in the region by Euromerican miners. At Siskowit, they mistook the pits and trenches as relics of more recent mining activities despite all the infill and overgrowth. Today much of what you see relates to the industrial mining activities that occurred here. Although most of the early diggings were obliterated by those activities, there are still vestiges of the Indigenous workings.

Whittlesey, Charles. 1863. Ancient Mining on the Shores of Lake Superior. Washington:  Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge 13(4):1-1-29

Quincy

Starting in 1846, Quincy Mine explored the hillside above Portage Lake. Historical documents indicated that Indigenous mining occurred here.

In 2019 and 2020, archaeologists set out to locate some of these pits. Positive identification of pits proved to be difficult due to dense vegetation, modern refuse, and mining landscape hazards.

Exploring for potential Indigenous pits.

NPS Photo

Although little was definite during the 2019 and 2020 field season, potential exists for future discoveries.

An Indigenous pit at Delaware.

NPS photo

Delaware

Delaware Mine, formerly known as the Northwestern, also searched for mass copper and used Indigenous mine pits as a guide.

In 2020 archaelogists too went searching for these pits. What they found surprised them. The archaeological evidence for Indigenous mining observed at Delaware Mine is among the most intact on the Keweenaw Peninsula. This is likely due to the shift in the location of later mining activities.

Hammerstone found on Isle Royale.

NPS photo

Minong Mine

The Minong Copper Mining District was recently designated a National Historic Landmark, which highlights the national significance of the site in commemorating the history of Indigenous peoples in this region as well as subsequent industrial mining activities.

People standing in Indigenous pits on Isle Royale.

NPS Photo

Much of our modern archaeological knowledge of Indigenous native copper mining methods stems from field research undertaken at this location. The Indigenous mining pit concentration within the District is one of the largest ever found, and is by far the most thoroughly studied. The site combines one of the largest, best preserved Indigenous copper mining landscapes with the well-preserved remains of the largest industrial copper mining operation on Isle Royale.