A Journey Through Time
When I began this research, I never imagined it would lead me so far back in time. Once I started digging into this 9,000+ year-old story, I couldn’t stop. Without formal training in archaeology, I taught myself and delved into various disciplines to gain a deeper understanding.
Learning isn’t confined to books. It involves engaging your senses, seeing, touching, smelling, and experiencing things firsthand. I traveled extensively, studying the Great Lakes region from Michigan to Maine and exploring the Mohawk Valley. My research also took me to Alaska and Canada, where I studied caribou, Native communities, and glaciers. Witnessing real-time changes in plant life while driving through Canada multiple times offered unparalleled insights.
Artifacts and Understanding Human Technology and Habits Before the Industrial Revolution
These trails are so newly rediscovered that there are very few artifacts to study. The state and universities likely have hidden materials that are not accessible to everyone. The only way I could obtain a hands-on feel of most materials was by purchasing my own authentic artifacts until more items are discovered for analysis.
I would like to start with the oldest artifact I own this Homo Erectus Hand Axe. It was made by not fully modern humans about 1.5 million years ago in what is now the Sahara Desert in North Africa, Mali. Homo Erectus used this same tool for over 1 million years. It fulfilled their needs for breaking bones, digging roots, defense, and accessing termite mounds.
Why is this tool significant for studying Native history in Northern Lower Michigan?
This tool serves as an example to demonstrate that ancient Native life, much like the pre-industrial era, evolved at a much slower pace compared to the modern world. These trails, hundreds to thousands of years old, were crucial for travel. They required only slight modifications or extensions to remain in use from ancient times to the present day.
I have also included other authentic artifacts in this section, each with its unique purpose, to further illustrate these concepts.
Archaic 5000 B.C. to 500 B.C. Stone Axe found in Cheboygan County Michigan in1920.
Native Trade Beads From the Great Lakes Region north.
From right to left: Green Mellon 1800’s, Blue 6 layer chevron 1700’s, French cross 1600’s, Hudson Bay company chevron 1700’s, Pillow 1700’s, chippewa pipestone pre 1600’s, and Wooly Mammoth Bone 10,000 B.C. to 2000 B.C.
Late Woodland Culture to Early Historic.
800 A.D. to late 1700’s. Bow and Arrow Point found in a field in Midland, Michigan, near the Chippewa Nature Center.
The photo depicts a Paleo Transitional Spear (Lance) dating from 8000 B.C. to 6000 B.C., found in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Early Historic, 1800’s Iron arrowhead. Found in the central Plains area. A lot of These iron points were made from the wooden barrel iron bands
Old Copper Culture (Archaic – Woodland, 7500 B.C. to 1500 A.D.)
Copper items such as a blank, knife, and awls (found in Luce and Mackinac County, Upper Peninsula, Michigan) could be re-hammered into new tools as needed.
Early Woodland Culture 500 B.C. to 100 B.C. Found in a field in Midland Michigan near the Chippewa Nature Center.
Archaic Southern Michigan, 5000B.C. to 2000B.C. this projectile point could be used with the aid of an Atlatl spear thrower.
Michigan transitional Paleo spearpoint. 7000 B.C. to 5000 B.C. possibly used with the aid of an Atlatl.
Wigwam Cultural study of the Chippewa Tribe Grand Portage Minnesota.
Pack Ice study Glaciology study in Valdez, Alaska.
Whale and Walrus bones
Found in (Northern Lower Michigan) Whale and Walrus Bones. Natural history museum Ann Arbor Michigan. Zoology.
Newspapers are a huge source of historical information. Cheboygan Daily Tribune September 26, 1955.
Antler and Bone were a very common Resource. It is impressively Hard and easy to obtain in any weather condition. Everything from needles to shelter frames were made from it
This caribou also called reindeer in Europe died hundreds if not thousands of years ago after falling into a crevasse on the glacier. Photo courtesy of my friend in Mccarthy Alaska John Fontanilles.
Pottery holds huge historical value. It can be dated and identify specific cultures. Here are North American shards dating as recent as the Mississippian period 1600 A.D. to the Woodland period 1000 B.C.. Along with full containers from China dating back to the Neolithic period 2500 B.C.
Hear From History Lovers
Honest Testimonials
Through my research, I’ve built a community of curious and appreciative readers. Their testimonials celebrate our shared journey into Michigan Archaeology.
