2G8 



ETHNOLOGY. 



hatchets may have beeu used priiicipallj'to crush their shells, inasmuch 

 as very many of these implements have been found with heaps of the 

 burned shells. 



Yv'e would here call especial attention to the rnde, green-jasper hatchet, 

 (figure 30.) which has its edge derived by striking off a large chip, struck 

 at one blow, giving it, on one side, a smooth surface, which edge meets 

 with the opposite more gradually-wrought surface. This specimen is of 

 peculiar interest in agreeing so nearly with an illustration of a Euro- 

 pean Kjoll-oimorlding ax, given by Sir John Lubbock, in " Prehistoric 

 Times," plate 1, figure 8. 



In conclusion, we would direct attention particularly to the hatchet, 

 (figure 33,) which very nearly approaches the lance or arrow head; and 

 indeed it may properly be one of these two implements rather than a 

 hatchet. We place it here, however, as showing how readily some of 

 these smaller weapons run into other forms. While figure 33 would 

 make a small spear-head, and be well adapted for that purpose, yet, as 

 it appears to us, it is quite as well shaped for a hatchet as any of the 

 preceding figures. 



The few chipped jasper implements, which we have designated as 

 " flint hatchets," resemble very closely the smaller specimens of " rough- 

 hewu celts" figured by Mr. Evans in the fourth chapter of his work."* 

 There are some points of difference, however, which are well worth indi- 

 cating, and the principal variation is, that our jasper specimens are, as 

 a rule, thinner, and show a much more elongated oval section ; indeed, 

 in section, the New Jersey specimens are quite irregular, the mineral 

 not being as easy to work as the true flint. This difference, however, 

 does not arise because the jasper will not yield to chipping and pressure ; 

 since for symmetry and accuracy of the beveled edges, some of our jas- 

 per arrow-i)oints are not excelled in specimens of a similar character in 

 any other part of the world. 



There appears to be fully as much variation in outline in the English 

 celts of this class as in the flint hatchets, such as we have described. 

 In all, a well-defined cutting-edge obtains, and this feature decides the 

 use of the implement, call it by whatever name one may. The " celts" of 

 England and '"flint hatchets" of Xew Jersey are so nearly similar that 

 we doubt not tliat their uses were identical ; which uses, however, it 

 would be difficult to determine accurately, as our only means of learning 

 their history is the scarcely safe plan of judging of them, as allied to 

 similar implements of iron now in use. 



Some of the flint implements figured by Lartet and Christy, in "i?e- 

 liquicc Aquitanicw,''^ bear considerable resemblance to the specimens we 

 have figured in this chapter 5 but, just as in the preceding comparison 

 with English rough-hewn celts, we find the French specimens are much 

 thicker, and shaped by the detachment of much larger flakes, than, as 

 a rule, fly off from jasper when it is worked. Indeed, it would appear 



* loc. cii.) pp. 60-77. 



