View Single Post
Old 14th September 2010, 04:55 PM   #55
fearn
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,247
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kronckew
did not the indians of the pacific northwest have hardened copper tools?
Hardened copper isn't in the same league as steel. It will cut, but there's a reason why the European copper age was called the "chalcolithic" (=copper stone). As far as I remember, the PNW people used stone and antler tools for woodworking. I have no idea what they would use for whalebone, but if it's as soft as Ron reports, I'd guess the same.

F
fearn is offline   Reply With Quote