196 SAWS. SPINDLE-WHORLS. FLAKES. 



the first step was to reduce it by blows with a hammer to a 

 suitable size. Then grooves were made artificially, which 

 must have been a very tedious and difficult operation, when 

 flint knives, sand, and water were the only available instru- 

 ments. Having carried the grooves to the required depth, 

 the projecting portions were removed by a skilful blow with 

 a hammer, and the implement was then sharpened and polished 

 on blocks of sandstone. 



The axes appear to have been fastened into the handles by 

 means of bitumen, obtained probably either from the Val de 

 Travers near Neufchatel or from the Perte du Ehone. 



The stone knives may be considered as of two sorts. Some 

 differ from the axes principally in having their width greater 

 than their length. In other cases flint flakes were set in 

 wooden handles, and fastened, like the axes, by means of 

 bitumen. Saws also (fig. 126) were made in a similar manner, 

 but with their edges somewhat rudely dentated ; we do not 

 find in Switzerland any of the semi-lunar stone implements 

 which are frequent in Denmark. The arrow-heads were made 

 of flint, or in some cases of rock crystal, and were of the usual 

 forms. Spindle -whorls of rude earthenware (fig. 165) were 

 abundant in some of the Lake villages even of the Stone Age. 

 The presence of these whorls indicates a knowledge of weaving, 

 which indeed is proved by even more conclusive evidence. 

 At Locray, a spindle- whorl was found actually attached to the 

 spindle, which had thread still wound round it. There are also 



found rounded stones, pierced with 

 one or sometimes two holes. The 

 use of these is uncertain, but they 

 may perhaps have been used to sink 

 fishing-lines. 



The flint flakes offer no peculiari- 

 ties ; the Swiss specimens are, how- 

 ever, of small size. Corn-crushers, 

 spindle whori (stone Age). which are round balls of hard stone, 



