62 BULLETIN 14 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



used extensively where no suitable stone could be obtained. The sur- 

 faces of stone implements were generally finished by grinding, flaked 

 implements being of rare occurrence. A few flaked implements and 

 cores were recovered from the sites worked by the museum expedi- 

 tion in Samana. It is probable that implements of this description 

 were adopted to a variety of uses, although the existence of a series 

 of implement forms in shell appears to delimit such flaked and 

 rechipped stone forms, ag were recovered, to a variety of improvised 

 uses. 



Ground and polished stone celts. — The polished and ground stone 

 celt is the most characteristic of all Tainoan implements of stone. A 

 series of these was recovered from the open village siteg on the 

 peninsula, some rectangular in section, some broad and flattish in 

 mid section, others with straight sides. All are single-bitted and 

 reveal a ground and polished surface. Two additional characteristics 

 of the Tainoan polished stone celt or ax blade have been noted for 

 which the finds in Samana deposits show exceptions. These are 

 absence of any groove for hafting and a tapered and rounded butt. 

 The usual type from the Samana sites revealed a high polish, a 

 rounded and tapered butt, and no groove for hafting ; but at Anadel 

 were recovered several specimens rectangular in section, unpolished, 

 and having flat, rectangular butts. The straight cutting edge of 

 some of the Samana celts is another departure from the typical 

 Tainoan celt form. An interesting observation is the large number 

 of broken and fragmentary celts from the midden at San Juan 

 showing secondary use as unhafted hammerstones. 



A few celt or ax blades have been recovered from various sites in 

 the Greater Antilles on one side of which an anthropomorphic image 

 had been rudely carved. This is merely another illustration of the 

 wealth of media utilized by a people whose culture has once taken 

 up the technic of portrayal of life forms, particularly of the human 

 figure. The practical use to which stone celts or axes were subjected 

 precluded the exuberant use of the sculptor's arts on such media. 

 Oviedo's description of the hafting process clearly illustrates why 

 paneled relief carvings on stone celts must be unusual. The wooden 

 handle haft, according to Oviedo, was first cut to the required length 

 and split from the bulbous end. The thin stone blade was then 

 inserted in the cleft and a tight sewing of rattan splints placed 

 around the haft on either side to hold the blade securely in position. 

 This also prevented the split from advancing. The hafting of a 

 celt in a hole cut from a thick handle end is to be seen in a specimen 

 preserved in the United States National Museum from Turks Island. 



The petaloid stone celt of the Taino has been many times ade- 

 quately described. It, along with the distinctive forms of decorated 

 pottery, cassava griddles, stone pestles with ornamental figurine 



