430 CERTAIN OBJECTS OF UNKNOWN SIGNIFICANCE, 



No. 8 (PL XVII. fig. 2.) is in the Australian Museum, Sydney, 

 and was found near the Lachlan River, N.S.W. It is large and 

 heavy (weight, 61bs. 9ozs.), and is composed of sandstone. The 

 circumference at the base, which is oval, is 17 4 cm., and the 

 greatest circumference, at about the middle of the stone where 

 the section is much flatter, is 28 '5 cm. The length from base to 

 apex is 37 ■? cm., and the height of the specimen when stood on 

 end, in which position, by the way, it will remain unsupported, 

 is 3 2 '5 cm. 



The markings are few. Running round the top of the stone 

 about 12 mm. from the tip is a well-defined groove, and 3 cm. 

 below this are two nearly parallel scratches about 4 cm. in length. 

 The stone shows no traces of wear beyond the abrasion, consequent 

 upon exposure to the weather, and the transference of such a 

 heavy object from place to place. The lower end is as smooth as 

 the upper. 



No. 9 (PL XVIII. fig. 2) is in the possession of Mr. R. T. Baker, 

 Curator of Technological Museum, Sydney. It was found near 

 "VVilcannia, County of Young, N.S.W. It is composed of sand- 

 stone, and although more rounded than the pi'evious specimen, 

 oval in section, the diameters of the base being 5*8 cm. and 4-7 

 cm. The circumference at the base is 18-2 cm., and the greatest 

 circumference, at about a fourth of the way up, is 22-4 cm.; the 

 length is 35 cm., and the height 26 cm. There are no decorations 

 upon the stone, and the base is even. The remarks as to the 

 absence of signs of wear on preceding specimen apply also to this 

 one. 



Weight, 31bs. 13|ozs. 



Of the many theories put forward concerning the use of these 

 stones I shall consider only three: — (1) "Stones for Grinding 

 Seeds." (2) Ceremonial Stones. (3) Sorcerers' Stones. 



(1) GrinduK/ .Stones. — The aboriginal mill consists of two 

 stones — (1) a flat table (generally sandstone), oval in shape, about 

 2 feet long, 18 inches wide and 2 or 3 inches thick; (2) and a 

 smaller stone which is grasped in the hand. The see<ls are 



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