Prehistoric relics; an illustrated catalogue describing some eight hundred and fifty different specimens
Moorehead, Warren King, 1866-1939, comp
E 56 .M73 /V"'y*« 'SK-* /\ ^ -I a5 °^ - 7 ^"V ^9 • 4 q. 0 "lt> a> <3 V ° I* 4* ^ • * . . . * P „ - ,. ^ * 4^ % • 0^ PREHISTORIC RELICS AN ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE DESCRIBING SOME EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY DIFFERENT SPECIMENS Compiled from the Standard Authorities in Archaeology. One Hundred and Forty-six Figures BY MAIL, POST-PAID, ONE DOLLAR Published by THE ANDOVER PRESS Andover, Mass. Table of Contents Chapter I. The Collecting and Arranging of Specimens. Page c o II. Division of Implements. 9 III. Large Chipped Implements. 16 IV. Division III. Stemmed. .... u V. Peculiar Forms and Drills 31 VI. Flint Knives. . . .. 41 VII. Manufacture of Flint Implements. 45 VIII. Grooved Stone Axes 49 IX. Polished Stone Hatchets, or Celts. 62 X. Pestles, Mortars, Mauls and Hammers. 69 XI. Slate Ornaments and Ceremonials. 78 XII. Ceremonials ; continued. . . . - 84 XIII. Shell and Bone Ornaments and Implements. Q2 XIV. Bicaves and Plummets. .... IOI XV. Pipes I IO XVI. Pottery. . . .. I25 XVII. Hematites and Copper. .... 136 XVIII. Unclassified and Unique Forms. . . •. 149 c « Preface Nearly all of the 7500 collectors of archaeological speci- mens have at some time or other wished for an inexpensive, and yet complete, illustrated catalogue. Books we have had in numbers, but they are all expensive, or they cover explorations only. Therefore, there are objections to most of them. Recognizing the call for a collector's book — one that should be for laymen and not for experts — we have compiled the present book, Prehistoric Relics. It will be observed that we have quoted largely from standard authorities. In foot- notes we have referred to more than one hundred books, pamphlets and articles upon archaeologic subjects ; and students, therefore, will have no trouble in pursuing further reading. Prehistoric Relics is prepared solely for collectors and beginners in Archaeology. It is not intended for museums or professionals. The Andover Press, Andover, Mass. April 20th, 1905. Chapter I The Collecting and Arranging of Specimens It has been truthfully said that of all the sciences there is not one which appeals to the popular mind, or is of greater interest to the general public than Archaeology. An individual may dabble in it to the extent of making a collection for his own amusement ; he may take the various publications, visit the museums, join the societies and thus become more or less of a scientific archaeologist ; he is beset by no intricate nomenclature, he is not compelled to follow in certain prescribed channels. So it is that there are up- wards of ten thousand persons engaged in this fascinating study. The layman can best become interested in the ancient Ameri- cans by making a collection of their peculiar relics. If he lives in the city, he labors under more difficulties than his fellow collector of the village. He must resort to purchase or he may indulge in the pleasure of excursions to localities where specimens are to be found. He may experience more trouble and is certainly at greater expense than his rural contemporary, but in the end he may possess a better exhibit, for the city man, as a rule, has more means at his disposal. Let us outline for instance, what a man living in a small town may do. Suppose he can spare two half-days per week during the collecting season — April to November. He must first collect from his own neighborhood. If he has had no experience he would do well to read current archaeologic literature. From farmers and storekeepers he can ascertain who has a collection and if it is for sale, or upon what fields there were village sites. His leisure hours would be profitably spent in walking over these camp or village sites. 6 PREHISTORIC RELICS By the quantity of broken stone, and its extent, pottery, flint chip- pings, etc., he would know the large or small sites. He would learn to search after a heavy rain — especially when rain fell upon freshly plowed fields. Rough and rude types would constitute the main portion of his finds ; yet of great value to himself because they were personal finds. The man who purchases all his specimens, and who collects solely for the pleasure he derives in possessing beautiful implements, has a valuable cabinet in that its contents represent the highest art attained by aborigines. But such a collection is not of real archaeo- logic value. It should contain all the types whether of fine or poor workmanship. In such an assortment the student will take more satisfaction and, moreover, he cannot be classed as a " crank " simply gathering unique and unheard of types without regard to their real meaning, age or genuineness. Display of Specimens As to a cabinet. A spool case, or one or two shelves in a book case will do for the first few months. When the collection becomes crowded in its space a special cabinet is necessary. The only dif- ference between the average book case and a case fit for the display of archaeologic material lies in this : the shelf supports should be stronger, the shelves nearer together (say six to seven inches) and slanting slightly towards the front. Heavy objects should be placed on the lower shelf, tall ones and pottery at the top and the small or flat specimens on the middle shelves. The relics should be labeled or numbered and entered in a book catalogue. Canton flannel (or thin cotton strips) is sufficiently rough to prevent ornaments, flint implements or other small artifacts from slipping. They can be placed in rows, circles or other artistic groups according to the fancy of the collector. When not sewed on cardboard the specimens may be more conveniently handled ; but there is some danger of breakage. Light objects on a dark background, or dark objects on a light back- ground will bring out the details of workmanship into strong relief. Whole pottery should be arranged on top (outside) and protected by three or four wires strung along in front. The finer, or more delicate whole pottery may be placed on one of the shelves. FIG. I. TYPICAL COLLECTION. S. ABOUT 1-8 OR 8 PREHISTORIC RELICS Number light specimens with India ink ; dark ones, with white paint. Record in a book the numbers, locality, etc. Large un- sightly labels deface specimens and are an abomination. All scien- tific museums paint numbers on the specimens and record the same in books, or keep a card index. On large specimens the site may properly be painted or inked as : 14-17 PIKE CO., I LLS. But small objects look better if only numbered. A collector who wishes to be well informed, or to become a stu- dent in the full sense of the word, should read such as he can pro- cure of the works and reports mentioned at the end of this book. If one has time to carefully peruse even a few of them he will store his mind with a great deal of reliable and useful information. In Figure I a typical collection comprising several hundred specimens is shown.* There are several thousand collections just about like this one, in the United States. Many of the relics are good, but they do not appear to advan- tage because they are not as well mounted as might be. If the vari- ous types were grouped together the effect would be heightened. Most collectors fall into the same error and put specimens into their cabinets without regard to any fixed plan. It is just as easy to make a neat and attractive arrangement. Readers will do well to remem- ber this suggestion. *In each description of an illustration " S " refers to size. Thus S. 1-3 means scale (or size) one-third of the original. Chapter II Division of Implements There are many schemes of classification of ancient relics pro- posed by the several authorities. We shall combine these various groupings into one. Specimens may be separated into two great divisions. First, The Known. Second, The Unknown. As the intelligent reader will observe, the Known class em- braces those objects which are familiar to us. That is, of certain implements, ornaments, etc., we can say positively that primitive man made and used them for such and such definite purposes. Be- cause we cannot determine for what purpose the others were used, they must be grouped under the " Unknown " heading. Several ethnologists suggest a classification on yet different lines, using the occupations as a basis. For instance : " The Man " ; Warfare, hunting and fishing, Ceremonial, re- ligious and secret orders, etc. " The Woman " ; Domestic and agricultural, Carrying industry, etc. " Both Sexes " ; Clothing and personal adornment, Ceremonial, Religious, etc. But we need not follow this scheme in its details as it embodies more ethnology than archaeology, and we are to study the latter rather than the former. All the objects whether Known or Unknown fall under the fol- lowing further classifications. Chipped objects — such as arrow and spear heads. Polished objects — such as slate ornaments. Ground or pecked objects — such as axes or celts — and these often are polished. Moulded objects — such as pottery. Carved objects — such as bone and shell effigies. Hammered objects — such as copper implements. IO PREHISTORIC REIICS When one reaches the subdivisions, under the above heads, one is beset by difficulties. It is easy to separate implements, etc., ac- cording to the broader divisions, but as one form or type graduates into another, it is hard to say with assurance just where one type ends and another begins. Chipped objects may be divided into three general classes. 1. For Agricultural Purposes, Chopping, Etc. 2. For Ceremonial, or Unknown Uses. Partly Fin- ished Material, Etc. 3. Projectiles, Cutting and Scraping, Drilling, Orna- ments. A comprehensive and practical classification of chipped imple- ments has been attempted by the late Dr. Thomas Wilson, curator of the archaeological section of the U. S. National Museum at Wash- ington, D. C. The specimens in that collection he divides into four grand divisions according to forms already well known and sepa- rated. * We reproduce his article in full. Each one of these primary divisions is classified into a number of subdivisions which are here shown. Division 1, leaf-shaped. In this classification the leaf-shaped is placed at the head as being the oldest implement of its kind. This division includes all kinds : elliptical, oval, oblong, or lanceolate forms bearing any relation to the shape of a leaf, and without stem, shoulder or barb. Class A, is pointed at both ends. The widest place one third, or one fourth from the base. class a. fig. 2. * Arrow-points, Spear-heads, and Knives of Prehistoric Times, Annual Rep. of the Smithsonian Institution, U. S. National Museum, 1897. DIVISION OF IMPLEMENTS CLASS B. FIG. 3. Class B, is more oval, less pointed and with base concave, straight, or convex. class c. fig. 4. Class C, is long and narrow, with sharp points, parallel edges, and the bases are concave, straight, or convex. These belong to the Pacific coast. DIVISION 11 Division II, triangular. This division includes all specimens which, according to geometrical nomenclature, are in the form of a triangle ; whether the bases or edges be convex, straight or concave. They are without stems and consequently without shoulders, though in some specimens the extreme concavity of the base produces barbs when the arrow shaft is attached. fig. 5. 12 PREHISTORIC RELICS DIVISION III Division III, stemmed. This division includes all varieties of stems, whether straight, pointed, or expanding, round or flat, except those with certain peculiarities and included in Division IV ; and whether the bases or edges are convex, straight or concave. Class A is lozenge-shaped, not shouldered or barbed. CLASS a. fig. 6. Class B, is shouldered, but not barbed. CLASS B. FIG. 7- Class C, is shouldered and barbed. These Mr. Wilson says, " cover the commoner forms of arrow-points and spear-heads through- out the world. Certain other forms, few in number, or restricted in locality, and scarcely entitled to divisions by themselves, are never- theless found in sufficient numbers and with such definite character- istics that they cannot be ignored." These he has placed in a general class under the head of " peculiar forms." class c. fig. 8. DIVISION OF IMPLEMENTS 13 DIVISION IV PECULIAR FORMS Class A, beveled edges. CLASS A. FIG. y. Class B, serrated edges. CLASS B. FIG. IO. Class C, bifurcuted stems. CLASS C. FIG. IT. Class D, long barbs, square at ends. Peculiar to England, Ire- land, and found in Georgia, in the United States. " Our interest in CLASS d. fig. 12. PREHISTORIC RELICS this class," says Dr. Wilson in his admirable work, " arises from the fact that, while they are confined to restricted localities in Europe as mentioned, they should have appeared in America in an equally circumscribed area, namely, the state of Georgia." An excellent specimen similar to the second shown in Class D, with a straight stem is shown by Sir John Evans as Fig. 318.* It was found in a sepulchral mound at Rudstone, England, in front of the face of an unburnt body. The base of the barbs which are as long as its stem are chipped almost straight forming a sharp point on the inner side of the barb. In Europe they are assigned by archaeolo- gists to the first epoch of the Bronze period. Peculiar to the province of Chiriqui, Panama. These are thin and narrow rude flakes struck from nuclei and left nearly in their original condition except that a rude stem has been chipped, and where necessary they have been brought to a point, as the material from which they are made is hard and refractory. The class e. fig. 13. . _ .. workmanship is rude. Broadest at cutting end and chisel-shaped. They are thin, almost flake-like in appearance, not made pointed, nor are the edges worked down by secondary chipping. The cutting edge is at the front, at the broadest end, and, thus propelled, will Ih k I make a wound wide and deep. It is a question \ IT 1\ whether these small flint objects were really the j \\ points of arrows. Several of them found in France hi £ an<^ other parts of Europe were fastened in short handles, and may have served as knives. A cache class f. fig. 14. . . \ . . , , containing several thousand specimens was tound. and is now on exhibition in the Museum of Antiquities at Copen- hagen, Denmark. They may have served for different purposes, just as our varied flaked tools did in this country. Polished slate points are peculiar to the Eskimo country, to New England and New York. Mr. Willoughby, of the Peabody Museum, found some long, polished slate blades, eight or more inches in length, in ancient graves in Maine. *Ancient Stone Implements of Great Britain p. 343. DIVISION OF IMPLEMENTS 15 FIG. 15. SLATE POINTS. From the collection of the University of Vermont, a, d, e, red slate, b, drab talcose slate, c, f, grey roofing slate, c, d, and e, S. 1-2. b, f, S. 1-3. Chapter III Large Chipped Implements used for Agricultural and Domestic Purposes DIVISION I ; CLASSES A, B, AND C. Collectors have more flint implements than anything else. Moreover, such objects are greatly sought and seem to be highly prized. It is fitting, therefore, that we devote more space in this book to the varied forms of large and small chipped artifacts than to other types of implements or ornaments. The chipped spades, hoes and flint celts are numerous through- out that part of the Mississippi valley lying between the Wabash river in Indiana and central Kansas and extending south almost to the Gulf. For agricultural and domestic purposes other implements were used in the East, notably the mussel shell and wooden hoe and the rude notched stone hoe. Barring here and there a "stray" for which it is difficult to account, the large flint implements are confined to the area mentioned. fig. 1 6. flint spades and a hoe. missouri, hist. socy. collection. s. i-5. AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC IMPLEMENTS 17 Many of these are illustrated and described in that excellent work written by Gen. G. P. Thruston entitled, " The Antiquities of Tennessee." In Figure 16 we show two typical spades and a hoe. No. j is the oval or common form. No. 2, that type having a broad edge and tapering to a narrow top. These objects range from seven or eight inches to as much as twenty inches in length. Some of them are thick and clumsy while othere are thin and delicate. Over half of them show polish on the edges and this is due to long con- tinued use in preparing the soil for the planting of corn, beans, etc. No. 3 is a notched hoe, somewhat rarer than the spade. Fig. 18 shows an agricultural implement from Pennsylvania. It may be taken as typical of the eastern forms. Manifestly, many of the rudest chipped objects, especially those that are rather thick, may have been spades and hoes and to classify them all as unfinished ob- jects might be an error. FIG. 17. FROM THE BECKWITH COLLECTION, SOUTH-WEST MO. These spades and hoes are exceedingly well made. All the types are shown ; notched and unnotched hoes, oval spade, triangular spade, and fancy spade. S. about 1-13. iS PREHISTORIC REIICS FIG. l8. NORTHAMPTON. PA. MATERIAL, JASPER. S. 1-2 Akin to the riint hoe is the flint celt shown in Fig. 19. A line of demarcation where the celt ends and the hoe or spade begins cannot be drawn with certainty. The flint celt in the South and the West took the place of the stone celt in the East ; and as the stone celt in the East may have been used as a hand hatchet, as a toma- hawk, as a digging tool, to hollow out dugouts, and for multitudinous other purposes, so the flint celt of the Mississippi valley served a similar purpose. Fig. 19 shows a typical celt polished at its lower AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC IMPLEMENTS 19 edge and bearing traces of long continued use. A small percentage of celts are well made, for the major part of them are rough and FIG. 19. FLINT CELT, ALEXANDER CO., ILLS. S. 1-2. rude affairs and frequently we cannot tell whether the object is to be classed as a flint celt or should fall under the category of "turtle- back " or unfinished object. Some of the spades and hoes and polished celts are so finely wrought that one may doubt whether they were used for menial pur- poses. In Tennessee not a few large flint implements have been found and they are so delicately wrought that Gen. Thruston and other observers have classed them among the ceremonials rather than as implements. Notable among these are upwards of forty flint swords and sickle shaped objects of remarkable size and beauty. These were found in a grave not far from Nashville and are now pre- 20 PREHISTORIC RELICS served in .the Missouri Historical Society collection at St. Louis. Such objects may have been made by a most skilful worker in flint simply to show what he could do. In stone age times they per- haps represented the height of the art of chipping flint. FIG. 20. S. ABOUT I-3. Large flint implements from Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. Probably these are rather ceremonial than for use as common knives and spear heads. The longest one is over ten inches in length. In Fig. 21 we illustrate some of the large, well-chipped obsidian blades found along the Pacific Coast. Blades, swords, ceremonials, or whatever they are. have been found from time to time. They range from ten to twenty-five inches in length. Magnificent speci- mens of these are in the Smithsonian, American, and Peabody Museum collections. FIG. 21. LARGE OBSIDIAN " KNIVES ". J. A. HARRIS COLLECTION. SIZE ABOUT 1-6. PREHISTORIC RELICS Another kind of a large implement is the leaf-shaped. These are shown in Fig. 22. Usually they are finely wrought ; thin and sharp. They aie of such form that they could be notched and made into spears, or used in their present condition as knives. Often ar- chaeologists find them in caches or deposits — as if buried by some prehistoric merchant. Evidently they represented an article of com- merce. Sometimes as many as two or three hundred leaf-shaped implements have been found in a single cache. At the Hopewell Group in Ohio, 7232 were dug out of one mound. fig. 22. Some leaf-shaped implements from a cache in Michigan. Size about 1-6. Classes A and B are chiefly confined to knives, blades, etc. Fig. 22 illustrates this group. Class C embraces knives and also lance-heads, or unbarbed spear-heads. In Division II are to be included many blunt and thick points. AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC IMPLEMENTS 23 Usually, these are in the more refractory materials such as argillite, quartz and pebble-chert. But, of course rude and crude objects are to be found in any class of relics. The finest war points come from the Columbia River Valley and Pacific Coast. However, very nice ones are to be obtained in the Western Ohio Valley, in Arkansas and in New York State. The triangular points could have easily been notched and made into ordinary arrow-heads. Doubtless many were so treated. It was easy for the aborigine to change a simple object into a more complicated form and that he did so, we have abundant evidence. As to the power of penetration of arrows, and the strength of bows Mr. A. F. Berlin, in "Prehistoric Implements" (P. i93)quotes several observers : " The traveller Carver was told by the Winnebago Indians, who then lived in what is now the state of Wisconsin, that they sometimes made war-excursions to the south-western parts, — then Spanish pos- sessions,— and that it required months to arrive there.* The Indian propelled his arrow-tipped shaft with wonderful force and exactness. So strong were these Red people, and so dexterous in the manipula- tion of their bows, which were as thick as a man's arm, about eleven or twelve spans in length that they could project their arrows a dis- tance of two hundred paces. " The Spaniards under the adventurer De Soto experienced this to their sorrow while arrayed in battle against them. Their armor was pierced by these small points and many of them were wounded and killed, the arrows passing completely through their bodies. At the battle of Manilla two hundred Spaniards were killed ; of the re- maining living one hundred and fifty received seven hundred wounds. Cabeca de Vaca, a Spanish writer, who accompanied this unfortunate expedition tells us that he saw the butt of an elm tree which had been penetrated by an arrow the depth of a span. " Among other instances he mentions that of an arrow shot by an Indian which pierced through the saddle and housings and pene- trated one-third of its length into the body of a Spaniard's horse. " So proficient in archery, says Clavigero in his History of Mexico, were the Aztecs at the time of the invasion by the Spanish adventurer Cortez, that it was usual for a number of archers to as- * Carver. Travels, etc., Harper's Reprint, New York 1838, p. 42. 24 PREHISTORIC RELICS semble and throw up an ear of maize into the air, at which they immediately shot with such quickness and dexterity, that before it could reach the ground it was stripped of every grain.* " The chevalier Tonti. who travelled in the now western part of the United States two hundred years ago, alluding to the force with which the aborigines projected their arrows says : ' That which is won- derful in this, is the havoc which the shot sent by the savages makes ; for, besides the exactness and swiftness of the stroke, the force of it is very surprising, and so much the rarer, because it is nothing else but a stone, or a bone, 'or sometimes a piece of very hard wood pointed and fastened to the end of an arrow with some fishes-glue, that causes this terrible effect.' " *Life of Hernando Cortez, Arthur Helps, Vol. i, foot-note, p. 76. Chapter IV DIVISION III. STEMMED. Here we have a wide range, from the lozenge- shape to the deeply barbed and specialized forms. In order to make clear to collectors, who may become confused by the nomenclature employed in describing different parts of an arrow or spear head, the following plan prepared by Mr. Gerard Fowke will be of value.* FIG. 23. LOZENGE- SHAPED IMPLEMENT S. I-I. * Bureau of American Ethnology Report, '91-2. P. 143. FIG. 24. S. I-I. t The section below shows this more plainly. 26 PREHISTORIC RELICS FIG. 25. MICHIGAN. S. I-I The variations of these types are many. In Figure 25 we have a leaf-shaped object which has been notched and made into a spear. It was found in the Saginaw valley by Prof. Harlan I. Smith, and illustrates how that the simple process of cutting notches "may change the character of the implement. Figure 25 stands for the merging of Class A into B. SPEAR AND ARROW-HEADS 27 Fig. 26 is a peculiar lance or spear-head having a very long stem. Stemmed points are quite common, but it is seldom that the stem is so long as in this. It is an open question as to whether such a form as this was a lance-head or knife. Gray flint, Blue Grass, Iowa. S. 1-1. Figure 27 is a shouldered spear-head. It might be well to remark here that there is a diversity of opinion as to where arrow-heads end and spear-heads begin. We are of the opinion that an implement more than one and three-quarters inches in length might be classed as a spear-head. That is, a shouldered or barbed, or lance-like imple- ment which was, manifestly, not a knife. But a slender and thin point of two or two and a half inches in length might be used to tip an arrow. The weight, thick- ness, etc., makes a great difference. A heavy point was much more convenient as a spear- head ; a light point, as an arrow-head, as any who has practiced archery well knows. An archaeologist experimented with one of the heavy Yew bows which were common in England and this country some twenty-five years ago when archery was popular. The bow pulled about 60 pounds, and the greatest range was something over five hundred feet- The weight of the arrow-head made a great difference in the force, trajectory, range, and all other points observed. Therefore, in establishing a line of demarcation between arrow-points and spear- heads, it is not so much the length but the size, thickness, etc., of the implement which is to be taken into consideration. fig. 27. s. i-r. SCOTT CO., IOWA. 28 PREHISTORIC RELICS A broad spear-head from Iowa. S. i-i. From its form one may conclude that it was chipped from a larger imple- ment which had been broken. fig. 28. In Figure 29 the shoulders are much broader than the body of the spear-head. The form is more common South than North. Savannah Valley, Ga. S. 1-1. fig. 29. SPEAR AND ARROW-HEADS 29 FIG. 30. BLUE GRASS, IOWA. S. I-I. This marks the division between B. and C, as it may be classed with either. FIG. 31. WHITE FLINT, SCOTT CO., IOWA. S. I-I. Fig. 31 has a long stem and the shoulders or barbs are pointed. This form is somewhat rare. 30 PREHISTORIC RELICS To recite all the other variations would occupy more space than can be given to flint implements in this little work. Figures 32 and 33 will have to suffice. fig. 33. s. 1-1. Chapter V Peculiar Forms and Drills DIVISION IV. There is no lack of oddities and " unknowns " among flint implements, and Dr. Wilson might have expanded his scheme so that it would comprise drills, scrapers, knives, etc. In Fig. 34 we have a common arrow-head, but the edge has been chipped so that a broken line appears rather than a graceful curve or straight sides. These are rare. fig. 34. lawrence co., o. S. I I. Figure 35 shows one of the rechipped, single- barbed arrow-heads. Probably it originally had a similar barb on the right. The single-barbed pro- jectile points are found in some numbers in south- west Missouri and northern Arkansas. The pur- pose of these is not known. fig. 35. frierson, la. S. 1-2. Figs. 29, 33-4 are taken from Mr. Fowke's Stone Art, Bureau Ethnology Report. 1891-2. 32 PREHISTORIC RELICS FIG. 36. ROTARY SPEAR- HEAD. ELKTON, TENN. S. I-I. Figure 36 is one of the rare forms of rotary and serrated spear-heads. It is beveled to the left, as most of them are. Just why flint implements like this should have been beveled, one may not know. Dr. Wilson and others affirm that the beveling does not give a rotary motion to the point when shot, but that such motion was obtained or controlled by the feathers upon the shaft. It is quite obvious that a rotary and serrated spear-head, or arrow- point, would make a larger wound than an ordinary point ; and the animal would soon become exhausted from loss of blood, etc. We are of the opinion that such im- plements were used in hunting large game. Any one who has hunted with modern, small-calibre ammunition knows that the soft-nosed bullet is preferable to a bullet making a small, clean wound. The old style, large-calibre ammunition will speedily bring down almost any big game ; whereas, the same animal will run a long distance after having been shot by a high velocity, small-calibre bullet. A bow is not as effective as a rifle, and, as the pre-historic tribes were dependent upon their bows and spears to a great extent, they natu- rally employed projectiles which would bring about the greatest possible execution. This must be taken into consideration when studying flint implements. SPEAR AND ARROW-HEADS 33 Throughout the far West are found the minute points and knives of obsidian, carnelian, agate, jasper, agatized wood and other semi-precious stones. Because of their beauty, they have long been prized by collectors. An endless variety is found. Unfortunately, we cannot show more than a few of them. abed e 1 111 w I W f v fir * y V ' k§ \ ft * ¥ . . ■ o n m 1 k j i h FIG. 37. S. 2-3. THOMAS COLLECTION, IDAHO AND OREGON. The workmanship on these 18 points is exceedingly fine. A. A long, narrow point of obsidian. B. A thin, narrow point of obsidian. C A typical broad point of obsidian. D. Very small and of fantastic form. Obsidian. E. Made in the shape of a fish. Carnelian. F. Smaller than the average. Clear agate. G. The usual Oregon type. Moss agate. H. Unknown form. Agatized wood. I. Crescent form. Lance knife ? 34 PREHISTORIC RELICS J-K. Banded carnelian. Above them is a remarkable pattern cut out of red and white agatized wood. L. Very fine one of obsidian. M. Note the difference in the barbs between this one and the others. N. Common form in obsidian. O. Unusual form in obsidian. Near Stockton, California, some curious knives occur. Ten of them are shown in Fig. 38. The Rev. Mr. Meredith has described these in the American Ai-chaeologist* In that paper he expressed SPEAR AND ARROW-HEADS 35 In British Columbia fantastic forms in chipped objects are found. FIG. 39. UNKNOWN FORMS MATERIAL, GLASSY BASALT. S. I-I. LYTTON, B. C. Cut loaned by the American Museum of Natural History, New York. Prof. Harlan I. Smith, Collector. The scraper is widely distributed. It is notched or urmotched, large or small, curved or straight, oval or round. But the method of hafting was practically the same. Fig. 40 is a skin scraper in wooden handle. Shuswap Indians, Kamloops, B. C. " Many scrap- ers of this sort, and some natural fragments of con- venient form from neighboring outcrops, have been seen in use among the women of this region for soft- ening skins.* They were inserted in the split end of a wooden handle about three feet in length, and held there by winding with a thong that portion of the wood that held the stone. After the skin has been fleshed and freed from hair, it is stretched upon a framework of poles and prevented from be- coming hard and stiff by being scraped and poked with such a scraper until it is thoroughly dry. The specimen shown in this figure is much worn by such use." fig. 40. s. 1-4. Scrapers constitute a large and important class of flint implements. Among them are thick, curved flakes, one end of which has been chipped to a chisel form. Curved scrapers * Jessup, North Pacific Expedition. Archaeology of Lytton, B. C. Harlan I. Smith, May, '99, pg. 147. 36 PREHISTORIC RELICS were exceedingly convenient because the under surface was always smooth, and the implement would neatly fit the hand, lying along the side of the index finger, with the end against the base of the thumb, and the scraper side slightly protruding beyond the joint of the index finger. Scrapers were often made from broken arrow heads. Nearly all scrapers having notches were originally spear or arrow- heads. The primitive artisan showed his good sense and economy in utilizing broken specimens in this manner. Now, the scraper graduates into the knife. We cannot draw a line between them, although we can easily distinguish the extremes. But drills do not resemble the other classes. FI3. 41. DRILL FORMS, OHIO VALLEY. S. I-I. Many of the objects which we have been calling drills were doubtless used as ornaments, or employed for purposes other than the perforating of shell, stone, and bone naterials. Some ten years ago, Dr. Steiner of Grovetown, Georgia, advanced the theory that the SPEAR AND ARROW-HEADS 37 long and slender ones could not hare been used in drilling, but, on the contrary, were hair pins. He remarked the similarity between these and the long shell pins found in southern mounds and graves, and which are considered hair pins by archaeologists. Since Dr. Steiner's opinion was given several persons have claimed the credit of the theory. Most collectors think Dr. Steiner is correct. We will admit that most of the drill-shaped flint and stone artifacts were used by the aborigines for drilling purposes, for the greater number are short or thick, or of such shapes as preclude the idea of having been worn as head ornaments. But the long and slender drills — say three and one-half to five inches — have certainly been chipped out by skilled and careful workmen, and were manifestly too valuable to be risked as mere tools. They can be subjected to but slight usage — for the danger of breaking is great. Moreover, a hollow reed or a hardwood stick served the purpose just as well and could be easily replaced. There- fore, one cannot believe that they are merely perforating tools. For classification purposes drills may be treated of in two sections — the " broad top " and the narrow, spike-like forms. There are variations in size. These do not justify us in forming sub- divisions. DRILL, ONACHITA CO., ARK. S. UNKNOWN. FIG. 42. Number 1 in Figure 41 shows the ordinary " rounded top " form. Number 2, the small top and slender body. Number 3, the square top; and Number 4, the thin drill. There are many modifi- cations of the type. Some are thick, others thin ; some short, others long ; some have broader tops and narrow sharp points, others have blunt points. They have been called " rimmers etc. Some of them are very rude, especially those found on work-shop sites, and they may represent unfinished specimens. Some are three to four inches long, but there are very delicate ones from Tennessee, which 38 PREHISTORIC RELICS were less than an inch in length, yet exceedingly thin and having quite sharp points. One authority says that he concludes that the small and sharp ones were used as lancets. fig. 43- blue grass. iowa. S. I-I. This, perhaps, is a perforator made from a larger implement which was broken and then chipped to restore it to usefulness. It has an unusually broad top or base and is somewhat peculiar on that account. Just why a drill or perforator should have so broad a top we cannot perceive, unless that such were designed for hand tools and not intended to be fitted into a handle. FIG. 44. KANAWHA VALLEY. S. UNKNOWN. Long body, short drill point. Perhaps not a perforator at all. DRILLS 39 Probably a projectile point. We cannot say with any degree of certainty what it was. FIG. 45. BARSTOW CO., GA. S. UNKNOWN. In Figure 45 is another unknown. Mr. Fowke illustrates it in his Stone Art, and says that it is a " large implement ". What was it used for ? Why is the small, sharp point ? These questions are easy to ask and difficult to answer. . Figs. 44 and 45 are from Mr. Fcnvke's Stone Art; Bureau of Ethnology Report. '91-2. 4o PREHISTORIC RELICS It is scarcely necessary to call the attention of readers to the difference between the slender hairpin form and the shorter drill form. We cannot see how the same purpose can be assigned to both forms ; yet several archaeologists call all of them drills, no matter how slender they may be. For drills, etc.. the same materials were employed as for spear and arrow points, and knife blades. A much larger number of broken drills are found on the camp sites and fields than of perfect ones. Frost, or a flaw in the material, or a misdirected blow by a aboriginal worker — these have conspired to produce many broken specimens. Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Western New York, Michigan, and Tennessee furnish the finest. Some very good ones come from the South, but, as a rule, Southern types are rude. They are rare in the Southwest and on the Pacific coast. But few are found in New England. Canadian collections show that this relic is found in considerable numbers north of the Great Lakes. Specimens more than five inches long are very rare. The longest drill we ever saw was 7 1-4 inches. There are a few very minute odd-shaped relics, which may be perforators (or used for some unknown purposes), found in various parts of the country. Some of these are ''three pronged", others are curved and may have served use as fish-hooks. One is illustrated on the right in Figure 39. Chapter VI Flint Knives and Distribution of Materials and Forms A A. Form of knife somewhat differ- ent from the oval. B. Knife with well defined handle. C. Semi-lunar knife with pointed ends. C B FIG 46. FLINT KNIVES FROM GEORGIA. S. 1-2. Flint knives are common throughout the western continent and present a great variety of form and material. In numbers and dis- 42 PREHISTORIC RELICS tribution they rank second to arrow-heads, but are in preponderance over spear-heads, scrapers, etc. The forms cannot be clearly sepa- rated as in arrows and spears, but on the contrary they shade or merge from one type into another. A knife was a universal tool. It found its place in every house- hold, at the side of every warrior, in the hunter's belt, in the priest's paraphernalia, at the funeral, etc. In short, it was ever present. It might be rough or well finished — a rude specimen of poor chert, or a work of art in chalcedony, — a common hide scraper and cutter in the hands of an old squaw, or a beautiful obsidian blade in the pos- session of a high chief. Many of our best steel blades today are identical in form with the flint knives of long ago ; and the difference lies not so much in shape as in man's inventive genius and the im- provement in materials. Very rude, thick or " clumsy " arrow-heads are usually con- sidered unfinished. No so with knives. Some are undoubtedly incomplete. But crudeness in a knife does not imply lack of use. The roughest specimens may have seen service. Dr. Wilson's A. and B. in Division I present common knives. The chipping is fairly well done, yet in many specimens of this form it is much rougher, the flakes being larger, Of such, either end could be used to advantage. The indentations are due to flaws in the material or haste on the part of the maker. They indicate no purpose. The artisan wanted a knife and was not particular as to form of work- manship. A prevailing form is a simple flat flake, two to five inches long and one-half to two inches broad. Slightly thick at the top (1-8 to 1-16 of an inch), it tapers to a very sharp edge. Apparently it was struck off by one blow off the hammer. In some specimens the edge has been worn until dull, then it was rechipped very delicately. Knives of this type are sufficiently sharp to sever ten- dons or muscles. The curved flake knife we have always thought to have been for flesh cutting. They have been used in historic times by shamans for surgical, sacrificial and other kindred purposes : also in torturing captives, etc. The semi-lunar knife is found in New England, Canada and New York State. The form is supposed to have been derived from the Eskimo. Collectors who possess variations of C in Fig. 46 are fortunate. The best specimens of the " double curved " knives, well FLINT KNIVES 43 chipped and thin, are very rare. Moreover, they are more interest- ing and appear to better advantage in a cabinet than any other flint objects. We do not except spears or " drill-shaped " specimens of the highest tool chipping or flaking) is exceedingly well done. Undoubtedly only the chief men, priests, etc., of tribes possessed these better implements. By sickle form one does not mean those Tennessee and Georgia peculiar curved implements. That some genuine specimens have been secured no one can deny. But a large number of unheard of forms have since been manufactured and sold. Collectors would do well to taboo all " ceremonial crooks " or other freaks unless familiar with the locality and the finders. The Ohio Valley curved knife is. by no means so curved as the Tennessee ones. Moreover, so far as we are aware, it has not been counterfeited. In addition to the double curved knife there is a knife with a straight back and a curved or oval edge, a long thin knife such as Dr. Wilson shows in the two specimens to the right in Division i, Class A ; also the curved back and concave edge. Then there is a long dagger-like implement which may properly be considered a knife. The handle is much thicker than the blade and the object varies from seven to ten inches in length. Shorter knives were set in wooden or bone handles. Several bone handles have been found in the Ohio gravel burials and wooden handles are not uncommon in the Cliff-dweller country where the aridity of the atmosphere has preserved them. For variety and fineness, Tennessee and Ohio may grades. It must be borne in mind that the type is much finer than the illus- tration indicates. Sometimes they are as thin as sickle blades, but more fre- quently less curved and about 1-4 to 1-3 of an inch in transverse section in the thickest portion. They range from three to six inches in length. The points are seldom as sharp as we have shown this one to be. Usually they are slightly rounded. But the final chipping (bone FIG. 47. STRYKER, OHIO, S. 1-2. 44 PREHISTORIC RELICS well be ranked first. The finest work in small knives is found on the Pacific coast. Sometimes knives are shouldered or notched in order that they may be securely fastened in the handle. One of these is shown in Figure 48. Larger spear-heads, on becoming broken were fashioned into knives or scrapers. FIG. 48. FRIERSON,7 LA. S. 1-2. Chapter VII Manufacture of Flint Implements A great deal of nonsense is in circulation among collectors with regard to how the aborigines made the arrow-heads, spears, knives, etc. The late Professor Frank H. Gushing experimented not a little along this line. Mr. J. D. McGuire of the Smithsonian Institution, whose work is referred to in a number of places in this pamphlet, is also an authority upon this subject. Lewis and Clark in their famous expedition of 1803-5, record that they saw the Indians of the Upper Columbia river making obsidian arrow-heads. The arrow point was chipped with bone and the process was rapid and skilful. A resume of the conclusions of these gentlemen might be stated as follows: — Three kinds of flint were used ; the nodular flint, that of concre- tionary formation and found in certain portions of the United States ; the drift flint, being composed of pebbles or irregular pieces of flint found in the gravel of streams; and the quarry flint — which is con- sidered the best of all — which is found in layers in certain portions of the country, notably in Indian Territory, Illinois, Kansas, Susque- hanna Valley, Pa., and Flint Ridge, Ohio. Whether the man se- cured a nodule or whether he quarried his flint it does not matter. The first step in the process was the rough blocking out of the speci- men. He took an ordinary water worn stone of hard material and using it as a hammer stone, he struck off irregular flakes, directing his blows to the right or to the left, according to his desire ; then turned the object over and repeated the process on the other side. 