Metalwork - Using crude tools of bone and rock, the early Indians were able to work with copper, which appears to have been the only metal actually mined by them.  There is no evidence that the Indians extracted the metal from the ore by smelting, but some did use heat in making the metal more workable.  Indians usually fashioned their copper objects by cold hammering and grinding.

After the white man introduced silver, this became a very popular metal with the indians.  The navajo and Pueblo Indians were the most expert silversmiths.

Indians quickly learned to use iron and steel.  They made arrowheads from hoop iron and converted old files into knives.
 

Related Information within this Site
[ Arrow ][ Bell ][ Knife ]