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
A review of the illustrations in two preceding chapters convinces one
that nearly all the celts, adzes, and gouges may be grouped
satisfactorily. But here and there we find specimens illustrated on the
previous pages which indicate specialization, or particular effort on
the part of the maker. These, of course, are open to questions as to
where one should include them. That they meant a great deal to the mind
of the Stone-Age man, no one can deny.
[Illustration:
FIG. 245. (S. 1–3.)
]
There were two or three methods of mounting celts in handles. The
ordinary hatchet-blade was set so that the edge was parallel to the
handle. This is the natural way of mounting a tool used in cutting or
striking. The small celts, serving as scrapers, and also adzes, were set
at right angles to the handles.
The latter style of mounting was customary among the tribes of the Rocky
Mountains, and on the Great Plains. I present several original bone
handles from the Mandan sites in the chapter on bone implements, in
Volume II. Again, gouges and long cutting-blades were mounted in wooden
handles of various lengths, the blades being set at an angle which
varied according to necessity. As to how adzes and gouges were mounted,
Mr. Willoughby is clear in his excellent article on “The Adze and the
Ungrooved Axe of the New England Indians,” cited on a previous page.
[Illustration:
FIG. 246. (S. 2–3.) This is from the collection of S. E. Turner,
Riverside, Rhode Island, and is one of those polished hafted
hatchets which defies classification. It is angular, highly
polished, keen of edge, and symmetrical. The illustration describes
it better than can any words of mine.
]
[Illustration:
FIG. 247. (S. 1–2.) From the collection of Charles A. Perkins,
Wakefield, Massachusetts. It was found near Wakefield. There are
seven small elevations on the back of this gouge.
]
A study of specimens in handles in the various museums from caves,
caverns, cliff-houses, and the Northwest country, convinces one that
these were usually fastened with sinews, and often gummed in order to
make them more secure. The narrow part of the implement was usually
uppermost. The reason for this is obvious, for when the native used the
tool, the harder he worked the more firmly it became fastened in the
handle. Specimens with broad tops and narrow cutting edges were
doubtless used in the hand and not mounted in a handle.
Mr. Brown reports that a small number of gouges and adzes have been
found in Wisconsin.
CHAPTER XVII
GROUND STONE
GROOVED STONE AXES
It will be seen by reference to page 252 that these are placed under
five classifications.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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