The stone age in North America, vol. 1 of 2Moorehead, Warren K. (Warren King)
History
The stone age in North America, vol. 1 of 2
Moorehead, Warren K. (Warren King)
Indians of North America -- Antiquities; Stone age -- North America
It is easy for any archæologist to select a series of celts, beginning
with the oval form and ending with the spud-shaped implement. It is not
difficult to group the extremes. We hesitate over the specimens which
may be said to lie in the borderland of two divisions. One student would
place them in this class, and another observer might contend that they
belonged in that division.
The average celt is not large, although specimens have been found
weighing as much as fifteen or twenty pounds. Celts five and six pounds
in weight are not of rare occurrence, although they are by no means
common. Abnormally large celts, axes, and other cutting-tools seem to me
to indicate the skill of the aboriginal worker in stone, for it is quite
clear that it would be impossible to put to any practical use such
unwieldy stone implements.
The largest grooved mauls I have ever seen were found about the ancient
copper-mines of Lake Superior or in flint quarries.
Mr. H. M. Braun owns two beautiful specimens of large celts which are
shown in Fig. 228. The sizes have been indicated in white letters on the
specimens. A few similar ones have been found in Tennessee, but such are
rare. I would call attention to the slightly flaring edges of these
specimens and to the fact that they are not highly polished, which might
indicate that they are not finished.
There are chisel-shaped celts and celt-like implements sharp at either
end, the purpose of which is not clear. A number of these odd forms in
celt-like or pointed instruments are found in the Iroquois country. Dr.
William Beauchamp, the authority on archæology and ethnology of northern
New York, has referred to these peculiar forms and illustrated them in
the _Bulletin_ of the New York State Museum, vol. IV, no. 18. It may not
be out of place here to remark that the New York State Museum has
published many bulletins, eight of which are of special interest to
students of archæology and Indian history. These describe not only
polished stone articles and the chipped implements, but metallic
implements and ornaments, wampum, shell and bone, and also aboriginal
use of wood. I recommend all these to readers.
[Illustration:
FIG. 226. _(S. 1–1.)_
_Beautiful polished stone hatchets, from Andros and New Providence
Islands, Bahamas, West Indies; other objects from Tlaxcala, Mexico.
The central one is almost jade-like. The specimens are colored
accurately. Collection of B. W. Arnold, Albany, New York_.
]
[Illustration:
FIG. 227. _(S. 1–1.)_
_A celt, a chisel, and four unknown forms in dark, highly polished
stone and obsidian. Celts from Andros and New Providence Islands,
Bahamas, West Indies; other objects from Tlaxcala, Mexico. The
original colors are reproduced. Collection of B. W. Arnold, Albany,
New York_.
]
[Illustration:
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