26o Field Columbian Museum — Anthropology, Vol. II. 



examination to lead to the instant belief that it never could have been 

 put to a utilitarian purpose, and that it was used ceremonially there can 

 be, I think, no doubt. Near the lower extremity toward each corner, 

 and on the corresponding opposite sides (see PI. XLIII) is an irregular 

 surface from two to three inches in diameter, which has been abrased 

 b}' having been struck many times by some metallic or stone object. 

 These surfaces, situated as they are, have led me to the belief that 

 the axe was suspended by some sort of thong and that these abrased 

 surfaces were produced by its being constantly struck to produce, a 

 sound. Suspending it in the manner indicated and striking it with 

 a copper pin it gives forth a clear resonant tone not unlike that of a 

 bell. Inasmuch as objects of a similar nature have been used as a 

 sort of gong or bell in temple worship in different parts of the world, 

 it may be possible that the axe under consideration was used in a 

 similar manner. 



II. REFUSE HEAPS OF THE PLATEAU. 



Mention has already been made of squared and circular stones 

 and curious fragments of pottery which were found during the work 

 of excavation in the triangle near the beach. Inasmuch as all such 

 fragments there encountered were found in various strata of drift 

 which had been brought down from above, and as no pieces of this 

 material were found in any of the layers of ashes, it would be reason- 

 able to look to the summit of the plateau for the source of this 

 material. The credit of finding the original location of these curious 

 stones and pottery must be given to my assistant, McKinley, who 

 while looking for cattle on the plateau, on the third day after our 

 arrival, came unexpectedly upon a large heap of fragments of clay 

 images. On the following day I examined that portion of the plateau 

 lying just above and beyond the ravine and was so fortunate as to 

 find additional heaps of this material. Whatever doubt I may have 

 had regarding the supposition, that the objects found in the earth at 

 the base of the plateau came from above, was set at rest by my finding 

 the upper portion of a clay image in one of the refuse heaps on the 

 plateau, the other half of which had been found at a depth of thirteen 

 fee": in the excavated triangle. For the purpose of convenience I 

 shall treat the material from these two sources as a single collection. 



