The stone age in North America, vol. 1 of 2 — John Shaqi
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
“Let any one experiment with a bone point in chipping flint; he will
soon discover the value of a dry bone, a bone free from grease that will
hold to its work without slipping, a bone with sufficient hardness to
resist abrasion, a bone of strength to bear the pressure, and he will
value such a pointed bone, and will understand why, with such a bone,
John Smith’s ancient arrow-point maker ‘valued his above price, and
would not part with it.’ I have been informed that the modern Indians
free their flaking-bones from grease by burying them in moistened clay
and wood ashes, not unlike the common practice of our housewives to
remove grease-spots from their kitchen floors.
[Illustration:
FIG. 51. (S. 2–5.) Triangular, or war points and knives. Implements
with straight, concave, and convex bases. S. D. Mitchell, Ripon,
Wisconsin.
]
“The hunter or trapper described to me a mode still in practice among
the remote Indians of making flakes by lever pressure combined with
percussion, that is more philosophical and a better mechanical
arrangement than by the use of the flaking-staff, as described by
Catlin. Fig. 22 shows the manner of utilizing a standing tree with
spreading roots for this purpose; a flattened root makes a firm seat for
the stone, a notch cut into the body of a tree the fulcrum for the
lever; either a pointed stick is placed on the point of the stone where
the flake is to be split from it, its upper end resting against the
under side of the lever, or a bone or horn point let into and secured to
the lever takes the place of this stick. When the pressure is brought to
bear, by the weight of the operation, on the long end of the lever, a
second man with a stone, mall, or heavy club strikes a blow on the upper
side of the lever, directly over the pointed stick or horn point, and
the flake is thrown off.
[Illustration:
FIG. 52. (S. 1–1.) Knife with curved sides or edges. This form seems
more specialized than other types under Class I, sub-type A′. Dr. T.
B. Stewart, Lockhaven, Pennsylvania.
]
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