The stone age in North America, vol. 2 of 2Moorehead, Warren K. (Warren King)
History
The stone age in North America, vol. 2 of 2
Moorehead, Warren K. (Warren King)
Indians of North America -- Antiquities; Stone age -- North America
Among spear- and arrow-points especially, there appears to be a gradual
development from the primitive leaf-shaped, through the stemmed, to the
numerous and well-executed socketed forms. In this case the important
element in the transition from one form to another is in the manner of
hafting. A gradual transition in some instances from well-marked types
of one class into those of another may also be noted. The uses of many
of these implements, because of their close resemblance to modern
articles, are readily understood. The precise function of others is not
so readily ascertained.
An examination of a large series of any of these should convince us that
each had its special function, although probably also employed for such
other exigencies as might arise.
In the following pages the various classes of local copper implements
and ornaments are described and such information and suggestions
concerning their workmanship, purposes, frequency, and distribution
given as is now obtainable.
_Axes_
Large numbers of these implements have been recovered from Wisconsin
soil and are to-day represented by one or several examples in nearly
every local copper collection. They vary in weight from half a pound to
three pounds, rarely more, and in size from three to ten inches. So far
as is known no hafted copper axe has yet been recovered. Probably the
usual and most satisfactory method of hafting one of these implements
was to insert it between the parts of a cleft stick, to which it was
afterwards secured by winding the stick above and below it with strips
of hide, a number of turns being also taken around or across it. There
are at least three well-established types of these implements, which may
be briefly described as follows:—
[Illustration:
FIG. 586. (S. 2–3.) Copper axe, Washington County, Wisconsin. Copper
chisel, near Charleston, Calumet County, Wisconsin.
]
1. Those which are oblong or nearly oblong in outline, having the edges
parallel or nearly so, and whose breadth is such as to exclude them from
the class of implements known as chisels. Specimens range from less than
four up to seven or more inches in length. They are generally of nearly
uniform thickness throughout. (See Figs. 576, 578.) A variety of the
above type has the margin at the edges slightly elevated, thus giving a
depressed or concave surface in the centre, and from end to end, on one
or both broad faces of the axe. In some examples this margin is fully
one half inch in width at or near the middle of the axe. A curious
feature of some examples of this uncommon form is the concave cutting
edge. Such implements are to be seen in a number of the larger public
and private collections in Wisconsin. So far as can be ascertained no
examples of these curious axes have been obtained in surrounding states,
where the normal form also occurs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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