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
In these knives the cutting edge is usually along the right, rarely
along the left side of the blade. A specimen in a Milwaukee collection
has its blade ornamented with indentations. A small number of knives of
peculiar forms are also to be seen in local cabinets. (See Fig. 597.)
_Arrow- and Spear-Points_
1. Leaf-shaped points. (Fig. 598, upper right-hand specimen.) These vary
considerably in form and size, measuring from two to six or more inches
in length. The average size appears to be about four inches. Some are
oval in outline, others elliptical, lanceolate, or almond-shaped, the
elliptical forms appearing to predominate. The points are not numerous.
One or more specimens are to be seen in all of the larger Wisconsin
collections.
A small number of lanceolate forms in the Hamilton collection have the
added feature of a median ridge which traverses either side of the blade
from end to end. These range from two and three fourths to nine inches
in length.
2. Stemmed, flat points. (Fig. 603—to the right. Fig. 598—lower central
specimen.) These are of quite common occurrence in Wisconsin
collections. These points are generally quite flat and of nearly uniform
thickness throughout. The stem is of uniform breadth or tapers slightly
toward its extremity. In the former form it sometimes expands at the
base. The base is sometimes indented. In the Field Museum there is a
fine specimen of this variety from Montello, Marquette County. It is
nearly seven inches in length.
[Illustration:
FIG. 599. (S. 4–5.) Copper spear-points. Left to right: Merton,
Waukesha County, Wisconsin; Colgate, Waukesha County, Wisconsin;
Wayne, Barton County, Wisconsin. Milwaukee Public Museum collection.
]
The blade varies considerably in shape and size. The smallest example
known is one and three fourths and the largest about eight inches in
length. The average size appears to be about three inches. A very small
number have the face of the blade ornamented with indentations, usually
arranged in two parallel rows.
2 a. Ridged points. (Fig. 595.) These and several of the succeeding
forms are, strictly speaking, only well-established varieties of the
preceding type. In the present instance they are distinguished by the
presence of a median ridge which traverses both faces of the point,
usually from tip to tip. This is not a frequent form. The largest
specimen now known measures six inches in length. It is in the H. P.
Hamilton cabinet and was found at Two Rivers. Professor T. H. Lewis
obtained a specimen from a mound in Pepin County. Other specimens are in
the Field Museum and Milwaukee Public Museum and several private
collections.
[Illustration:
FIG. 600. (S. 1–2.) Copper spear-heads. Rat-tail type. Logan Museum
collection, Beloit, Wisconsin.
]
[Illustration:
FIG. 601. (S. 1–3.) Copper spears and knives. Collection of S. D.
Mitchell, Ripon, Wisconsin.
]
[Illustration:
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