256 ETHNOLOGY. 



The object of this double grooviug does uot appear. It is a feature we 

 have not met with in any other specimen. The preservation of the edge 

 and the general freshness of the whole surface makes it highly probable 

 that it is among the very latest of the stone axes made in New Jersey, 

 or, indeed, anywhere within a reasonable distance of this State; there- 

 fore it has probably seen little if any service, perhaps being used as an 

 ornament or badge of ofSce. 



When we consider the class of relics known as " skiuuing-knives," we 

 shall find that some of them are similar in many respects to this specimen, 

 and that possibly we have erred in calling figure 16 an ax. It has, 

 however, some features so common to the true axes that the likelihood 

 in the case is much in favor of classing it as we have done. 



Figure 17 represents a fair average specimen of a cobble-stone ax, 

 in which the groove extends entirely around the weapon. One feature 

 is particularly noticeable in these axes, viz, that the groove is always 

 nearly in the middle of the specimen. We have examined a large series 

 of axes, and find that the following characteristic is common to all the 

 examples that have come under our notice, viz : that when the groove 

 extends entirely around the ax, it is in advance of the grooves that do 

 not meet above, or on the upper margin, as in figures 11, 12, 13, 14, and 

 15. There was something in the method of using these rude implements 

 that is yet to be learned before an explanation can be given of this 

 curious feature of the varying position of the groove. Certainly, the 

 original shape of the selected pebble had nothing, or very little, to do 

 with determining the location. This specimen (figure 17) is about the 

 average size of any ordinary collection of these stone axes as gathered 

 from any one neighborhood. They range from four to eight inches in 

 length, seldom exceeding this limit, as compared with the whole number 

 found ; and the number of instances of axes of less length than four 

 inches is comparatively few. As a class, the completely-grooved axes 

 do not appear to be as well finished as the preceding style; and being 

 usually of " crooked " or irregularly-shaped stones, when a number are 

 together, there appears to be but little in common except the features 

 that pronounce them all " axes" or malls. 



A very fine specimen of a large ax is in the cabinet of Eutgers Col- 

 lege Museum, at Kew Brunswick, X. J. It was found within the limits 

 of that town, on the banks of the Earitan Eiver, which was probably a 

 favorite locality with the aborigines, who perhaps were further attracted 

 to the place on account of the native copper that was formerly found 

 there, and which they highly prized for a variety of purposes, especially 

 ornamental. The ax above referred to is of identical pattern with that 

 figured by Squier and Davis in Smithsonian Contributions, vol. 1, page 

 21G, figure 108, (Anc. Mou. Miss. Valley,) but is somewhat larger and 

 heavier. The former measures nine inches in length by six inches in 

 width, and weighs an ounce or two over nine pounds. The western spec- 

 imen " is made of very compact greenstone, and measures eight inches 

 in length by five inches and a half in its greatest breadth, and weighs 



