18th Century Brass Saw Blade- Fort Michilimackinac, MI (Video)
Unlike many other objects found on the Michigan frontier, this saw is made from brass. But why make a tool from a material that’s not strong or durable?
This saw was discovered at Fort Michilimackinac, a French military fort at the tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The fort’s location at the Strait of Mackinac connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron made it an ideal location for the French fur trade. Today, the fort has been reconstructed based on archaeological excavations and operates as a living history museum.
Iron, copper, and brass are commonly found at French trading posts, as all three materials were abundant and easy to work with. But the presence of a flimsy brass saw puzzled archaeologists.
The saw has rounded teeth, which suggests that the tool was used to cut materials like soapstone or catlinite. Soft stones were originally used by the Micmac tribe to make ceremonial pipes. French fur traders were also producing similarly styled smoking pipes, which may explain its production onsite.
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