A large 61 × 13 × 4.5 cm copper celt was found in an American Hopewell Indian mound in Ross County, Ohio. It weighs 17.7 kg and theories concerning the manner of its manufacture by technologically “primitive” prehistoric natives have been suggested. Because of its great size and density, normal X-ray analysis could not be used. This celt was analyzed (non-destructively) using Iridium 192 isotope as a gamma ray source for radiography. The radiographs show the celt was relatively solid in construction, not laminated nor cast, but manufactured by wrought working the metal.
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