“Three of these ‘implements,’ all beautifully made of hard stone, all with perforations, came from a mound on the ‘Charlotte Thompson place,’ near Montgomery, Alabama. One of these specimens clearly bears the marks left by a handle. The shank has projected beyond the handle on one side; on the other side the line of the handle passes across the top of the perforation. Another ‘implement’ has similar traces of a handle which are less distinctly marked. * * * * * “An interesting feature is that marks made by a drill, probably a reed, since the nucleus of a core is apparent, are plainly visible on the implement. Seemingly the endeavor to perforate the shank was abandoned after several attempts. The line left by one side of the handle is just above where the perforation was to have been.” * * * * * From the twelve specimens found by Mr. C. B. Moore in his explorations he draws conclusions as follows:— “From the soft character of the stones from which some of these ‘implements’ are made, it would not seem that they were intended for active use. “As some are not pierced, and as others have the hole too low on the shank to allow graceful suspension, it does not seem likely that these objects were used as ornaments or that the hole was intended for attachment to the person. “Inasmuch as on some of these, marks left by a handle are plainly discernible, probably all were used with handles, some of which left no trace. On certain ‘celts’ also one plainly sees where handles have been, but more frequently no marks are apparent. “Presumably, then, the ‘hoe-shaped implement’ was an axe and, as it was not intended for active use, it was a ceremonial axe, as I have maintained in previous writings; and the hole, when it existed, was to lash the blade more firmly to the handle. Perhaps, where the hole is not present, the blade was used without one, since the hole is not indispensable; or just as likely an unfinished object was buried with the dead. The discovery of cases of this kind abound in mound work.” CHAPTER XXIII GROUND STONE—PROBLEMATICAL FORMS PLUMMET-SHAPED STONES: STONE RINGS For the instruction of readers, we are fortunate in having to recommend a monograph entitled “The So-Called Plummets,” which was written by Dr. Charles Peabody.[42] This contains an exhaustive description of such forms of objects as are illustrated in Figs. 377–383. Dr. Peabody examined all that the writers have said with reference to these interesting, problematical forms. The many theories offered were presented by him in the form of a table which is herewith reproduced.