Buttons, especially metal military buttons, are often found when archaeologists are excavating the site of a native village. Does this mean that the two groups lived in harmony together? Not necessarily.
While it was not unheard of for natives and Europeans to coexist, more commonly, the two relied on each other for trade commodities. Many inexpensive items such as nails or sewing needles commonly used by Europeans were highly prized and sought after by natives.
Although some tribes did work in copper or silver, buttons on European clothing and American uniforms were elaborate and detailed in their relief carvings. Once acquired by natives, the buttons also served as trade items between tribes since they were greatly valued as regalia adornments
