Greetings to all list members:
Ten years ago this month I went into the field for my first investigation of
a pit furnace site in South Central Ohio. As a way of observing this
anniversary, I’ve decided to brave the criticism and rejection, which may
result from the latest addition to my web site, “America’s Mysterious
Furnaces.”
As a native of Ross County, Ohio where the bulk of my investigations have
occurred, I feel obliged to promote the preservation of one of its most
valuable archaeological sites: Spruce Hill, a “fort hill.” Since 1811, the
site has mystified visitors, ordinary citizens and archaeologists alike,
with its enigmatic evidence of high temperature materials processing in
small pit furnaces.
I now believe its time to reveal “the smoking gun” level of evidence which
I’ve withheld so far. I feel I’ve been a member of the metals list long
enough to establish that I am knowledgeable about archaeo-metallurgy.
A photo of what I believe is a Hopewell Culture (200 BC to 400 AD) open mold
for casting native copper is now on display on my web site at:
“Prehistoric Furnaces: Evidence of Copper Casting”
http://www.iwaynet.net/~wdc/copper.htm
William D. Conner
908 S. Roys Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43204
Phone: 614-276-5219; e-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
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