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
“(6) North Pacific coast. Bows with rounded grip and flat wings, usually
made of yew or cedar.
“(7) Fraser-Columbia region. Similar to number 6, but with wings much
shorter and the nocks curved sharply outward.
“(8) Interior basin. A long slender stick of rude form; many are
strengthened by means of a sinew lining on the back and cross-wrappings.
“(9) California. Like number 7, but neatly lined with sinew and often
prettily decorated.
“(10) Southwest. Like number 8, but seldom sinew-lined (Navaho).
[Illustration:
FIG. 85. (S. 1–2.) All expanding from base. Probably knife-blades for
hafting—because of curved edge. H. K. Deisher’s collection,
Kutztown, Pennsylvania.
]
“Small painted bows are used much in ceremony, especially by the
Pueblos, who deposit them in shrines. In the south part of this area
long cottonwood bows with cross-lashing are employed by Yuman and Piman
tribes. The Jicarillas make a Cupid’s bow, strengthened with bands of
sinew wrapping.”
[Illustration:
FIG. 86. (S. 1–1.) Specialized quartzite blades, probably in the main
projectile points, from Potomac village-sites.
]
We have observed that the form of bow and arrow varies among different
tribes. Probably similar variations obtained in ancient times.
Arrow-heads have been often found embedded in human bones. A prehistoric
specimen was unearthed in 1869 from an Indian mound in the vicinity of
Fort Wadsworth, Dakota, by Surgeon A. T. Comfort, of the United States
Army. It consists of a human lumbar vertebra with a small arrow-point of
white quartz embedded and incrusted in it. The vertebra is covered with
a new bony formation, showing that the wounded man survived the injury
for some months at least.
[Illustration:
FIG. 87. (S. 1–2.) Expanding stem, serrated edges. Georgia forms. H.
F. McIntosh’s collection, Albany, Georgia.
]
An ancient aboriginal skull from Henderson County, Illinois, contributed
to the National Museum by M. Tandy, had a hole in the squamosal bone on
the left side, inserted in which, when found and received by the museum,
was a stone arrow-point of the perforator or drill type.
Fig. 84 is a drawing of an obsidian-pointed Indian arrow found in
Arizona after a fight between Apaches and miners. The specimen was
picked up some fifty years ago. It is grooved as were most arrows, and
particles of dried blood still adhere to the shaft, and may be observed
in the grooves. The feathers are cut off in order that it might be
withdrawn, without enlarging the wound. Miss M. Gorton owns this
interesting specimen.
[Illustration:
FIG. 88. (S. 1–2.) Part of a cache found near Salem, Massachusetts.
Material: porphyry. Peabody Museum collection, Salem, Massachusetts.
]
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