IRON RIVER — West Iron County High School alumnus Ryan Peterson will present “Michigan’s Red Metal: Ancient Copper Mining and Production in the Upper Great Lakes” at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 1, at the West Iron District Library.

Peterson is an archaeology doctoral candidate at Indiana University’s Department of Anthropology, where he is researching ancient native copper production.

“We’re honored to provide a platform for Iron County graduates to share about the amazing contributions they are making to the world,” said Erika Sauter, program coordinator for WIDL. “We hope that this program will give our local community a chance to celebrate and learn from one of our own.”

Peterson has conducted archaeological fieldwork on various islands and coastlines throughout the Great Lakes, including Beaver Island, Isle Royale and the north and south shores of Lake Superior. He will continue his research this summer after his stop in his hometown of Iron River.

“The native copper found here is 99.9 percent pure metallic copper that, incredibly, native people managed to wield without melting and smelting,” Peterson said. “This talk will provide an overview of the history of copper mining, production, and use in the Great Lakes region over the past 10,000 years.”

The free presentation will be about 45 minutes, followed by an opportunity to ask Peterson questions. Complimentary refreshments will be provided. A library card is not needed to attend the event.

For more information, contact the library at 906-265-2831 or stop by the circulation desk at 116 W. Genesee St. in Iron River.