STONE AGE IN NEW JERSEY. 249 



holding it in the hand, and yet, if for cutting-uses only, why the pecu- 

 liar and cai'efully-wrought i)eak ''. There is nothing to show it was 

 ever used in connection with another implement, for such joint uses 

 would be indicated by battered surfaces at difterent points ; yet we have 

 found no "turtle-back-' that showed other contact than that of the 

 " hammer stone" that pecked the level side of the implement. 



Figure 2 is a smaller specimeu of " turtle-back," varying principally 

 from the preceding by the back being rudely ridged rather than pointed. 

 It is two and seven-eighths inches in length by one and seven-eighths 

 inches in width. The greatest thickness is nearly three-fourths of an 

 inch. The bottom, or under surface, is even more uniform than that of 

 the preceeding specimeu, and indicates that the more prominent points 

 of the under surface were rubbed away, although not sufliciently to give 

 a perfectly smooth or polished surface. Viewed from above, it bears 

 considerable resemblance to an implement for skin-dressing, to which 

 use it was probably applied. 



Figure 3 is a small ax or hatchet, that makes a step, as it were, in 

 advance of the •' turtle-backs." Two and one-quarter inches in length 

 and two and one-eighth iuches wide, it is brought to a gOod edge of two 

 inches in length, from a base one inch and one-eighth long by one-half 

 inch in width. As will be seen in the illustration, this specimen still 

 retains one characteristic of "turtle-backs," in that it is flat upon one 

 side and is chipped upon its upper and lower edges or side, as well as 

 sloped to the front or cutting-edge proper. The cutting-edge has been 

 dulled by exposure, but is still sufficiently keen to be used as a skiuniug- 

 knife, an incision having previously been made. Although calling it an 

 ax or hatchet, we believe its use was that above mentioned. 



If the climate of our country during the stone age was even as tem- 

 l)erate as it is now, warm clothing was an imperative requirement; and 

 it is safe to infer that a prominent use of all these rude implements was 

 in rendering fit for clothing the skins of the large mammals once numer- 

 ous in this region. 



Figure 4 is an interesting specimen, i)reviously designated as a hatchet, 

 but which is now classed and considered as a "rude implement." Three 

 and one-quarter iuches in length by two and one-half inches in breadth, 

 it presents nothing in common with the types — if we may call them so — 

 of these ruder forms of implements. From the base, which is the un- 

 chipped natural surface of the stone that has been selected, this imple- 

 ment is chipped equally on both sides, and brought to an edge along 

 each margin, and at the same time tapered to an obtuse point, suffic- 

 iently marked, however, to indi(;ate that it was intended to pierce as 

 well as cut. The broad base, which is sufficiently wide to allow the 

 specimen to stand upon it without support, upon a level surface, pre- 

 cludes the idea that there ever has been a long shaft attached, and so 

 converting the specimeu into a spear-head. 



Held in the hand, it would seem to be an awkward instrument for 



