14 



BULLETIN" 87, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



in mud. One specimen, of oval shape, was found in place at Blue. 

 It was observed, also, that a depression was formed in the base under 

 the lip of the metate for placing the bowl to receive the meal. (Fig. 

 7.) At Blue, Arizona, where extensive examination was made of 

 the debris surrounding the pueblo, many hand stones of irregular 

 size and wear were observed. (PI. 3, fig. 1.) Most of these, it is 

 probable, represent stones which were picked up and adapted to use 

 for grinding, and not pecked into shape, although some of these 

 stones may have been those used by the potter in reducing the lumps 

 of clay and other materials used in pottery, as among the Walpi 

 potters, where a number of flat and other stones were applied to vari- 

 ous purposes without having received specific form. 



Still another class of hand stones of very regular shape, a little 

 longer than broad (pi. 3, fig. 4) , was occasionally met with at Blue and 

 somewhat frequently in the lower valley of Blue River. (See fig. 20.) 



These resemble a type 

 of stone implements 

 from southern Califor- 

 nia. They are usually 

 of very hard material 

 and do not altogether 

 seem to have been used 

 for rubbing on a flat 

 surface. As a rule 

 these stones are better 

 finished than any 

 other of the domestic 

 stone utensils. It is probable that they had some use in pounding 

 deerskins or other soft materials. A few hand stones were also found 

 at Blue having a ridge along the back resembling somewhat the 

 rubbing stones from the Gila Valley and from Mexico. Small grit 

 stones of more or less irregular form, but worn on several faces, were 

 seen. (PL 3, fig. 9.) These appear to have been used on surfaces 

 where abrasion was required. They have commonly been called 

 whetstones, but their use appears to have been on flat areas. Lava 

 was also used where a strong abrading agent was required. The lava 

 artifacts are commonly of irregular form. (PI. 3, figs. 3 and 5.) 



Grinding, rubbing, polishing, smoothing, and other abrading stones 

 for use in the hands are relatively common, and in very many cases 

 they are merely stones of suitable size showing such use and lacking the 

 work necessary to make them definite implements such as can be classi- 

 fied in terms of art form. Most of these makeshift implements were 

 found in the Martin ruin at Blue. (Fig. 8.) Ground depressions 

 on rocks in place are not often observed in this region, but a fine 



Fig. 7. — Metate set ox a foundation from Blub. 



