SHELL-MOUND AXES. 



101 



sharp, is very strong, as it is formed by a plane, meeting the 

 flat side at a very obtuse angle. Professor Steenstrup doubts 

 whether these curious and peculiar implements were ever 

 intended for axes, and regards them as having been, in all 

 probability, mere weights for fishing-lines, in support of 

 which view he figures some not, perhaps, very dissimilar stone 

 objects, used for that purpose by the Esquimaux. The so- 



FlG. 105 



FIG. 107. 



Esquimaux Scraper. 



called edge, in his opinion, neither has nor could have been 

 used for cutting, but is merely the result of that form 

 which was found by the fishermen to be most convenient. 

 He also calls attention to the polished facets on their sur- 

 faces, which he regards as affording strong support to his 

 opinion. 



It must be at once admitted that there are many of these 

 "axes" which could never have been used for cutting, but 

 these may be regarded as imperfect, and are certainly not to 

 be taken as normal specimens. It is true that the two sur- 

 faces, constituting the edge, form a very obtuse angle with 

 one another, but we must remember that if this detracts from 

 the sharpness, it adds greatly to the strength. Moreover, the 



