• STONE AGE IN NEW JERSEY. 259 



into a -svedge. Loskiel* says: ''Their Latdiets ^vere wedges, made of 

 liard stones, six or eight iuclies long, sharpened at the end and fastened 

 to a wooden handle." 



Occasionally we meet with a croolvcd or bent ax, which has, however, 

 more method in its irregularities than has figure 20. Such an ax we now 

 have, which was originally an ordinary cobble-stone that was decidedly 

 bent or bow-shaped. Such shaped stones were frequently chosen, as we 

 have seen a number of specimens from widely distant localities. The 

 best illustration of such bent axes is one measuring nine inches in length 

 by three and one-half inches in width. The head alone is the natural sur- 

 face of the stone, except a narrow strip immediately in front of the groove ; 

 all the rest has been dressed down, and tapers gradually to the edge, which 

 has been moderately sharp but never i)olished. These so-called bent 

 axes are attractive in appearance as seen in the cabinet, but do not 

 seem to possess any especial advantage over any other form. 



With one more illustration, that of a fantastically-shaped cobble-stone 

 ax, we will conclude this portion of our subject. Figure 21 represents a 

 small ax with three uncommon features : the near approach of the 

 groove to the middle of the specimen ; the almost flat surface of one side 

 of the implement; and the intended double edge. We say intended, but 

 it may be that the shorter end has had a cutting-edge thereon, although 

 there is no trace of it left now ; or the broken condition of this end may 

 be the preparatory chipping, to have it ready for grinding to a cutting-edge 

 at any time it might bo desirable to do so. This specimen measures six 

 inches in length by two and one-half inches in breadth, except at the pro- 

 jection immediately in front of the groove on the upper margin, which pro- 

 jection is about one-half an inch in length. What might be the object in 

 having one side flat, or nearly so, does not appear ; but it will be seen 

 that this peculiarity is not confined to this ax, or to a few axes as a 

 class by themselves, but occurs in weapons and implements of a far 

 different nature. 



It would be easy to go on for an indefinite time, and point out pecul- 

 iar features in the multitudes of stone axes that are to be found in 

 every museum, and scattered throughout the conntiy, but it is unnec- 

 essary to give additional examples. We probably have particularized 

 more than was necessary, and certainly have gone over the ground 

 sufiQciently to give a general idea of the common characters and average 

 a])pearance of this class of relics. 



Whatever may be thought of the scientific value of single specimens 

 of these axes, or of other relics found lying upon the surface of the 

 ground, that value is enhanced perhaps, or at least interest is attached 

 to the specimens, when we occasionally have the good fortune to un- 

 earth a so-called "deposit" of these specimens, sometimes numbering 

 several hundred. 



In one case, in digging a cellar in Trenton, X. J,, one hundred and 



* Mission among N. A. Indians, (Delawares,) page 54. 



