STOrE AGE IX NEW JERSEY. 269 



as tbo'.igli the jasper, agate, hornstouc, and cliert, of which our '• tiiut 

 iuiplements " are made, is really better adapted to the purpose than true 

 flint; for the " cuttiug-edges " of the implements found here in Xew 

 Jersey are much sharper and more regular than the same are in the 

 allied implements made of true flint ; and this fact may explain why the 

 true flint celts had their edges ground, to make them sharp, which grind- 

 ing is wholly wanting to the " flint hatchets,'' such as we have de- 

 scribed. The edges here are so finely chi])ped and sharp that grinding 

 or polishing is unnecessary. We doubt if a ground-edged celt could be 

 l)ut to any use to whii.'h the chipped jasper hatchet would not bo equally 

 well adapted. 



Chapter YT. 



lance-heads. 



AYherever we find arrow-heads, and other larger specimens, more 

 properly designated spear-points, there also occur in varying numbers, 

 but nowhere rare, certain leaf shaped and irregularly triangular-worked 

 " flints," which we will call "lance-heads." A distinction is made be- 

 tween the lance and the spear, inasmuch as the former is without a 

 notched or stemmed base, or both, which features singularly or together 

 characterize the spear-head proper, which, also, are smaller as a class 

 than lance-heads, but too large to be of use if placed at the end of an 

 arrow. The size, however, is not of much importance in distinguishing 

 the various types, since all classes of weapons invariably merge into each 

 other. 



There is considerable variation in the minerals used in the production 

 of these lance-heads, and, in localities where they are abundant, are 

 usually of the native rocks most easily worked. About the Delaware 

 River, and, indeed, throughout the State, the majority of these specimens 

 are of slate, the harder, more finely grained, least shelly layers of this 

 material having been utilized exclusively. Our collection of them, all 

 from the neighborhood of Trenton, N. J., consists of slate, yellow jas- 

 per, milky quartz, agate, and a micaceous sandstone, seldom used for 

 any purpose, as far as our collecting experience extends. 



While these lance-heads are, we might almost say, never wrought with 

 that care which characterizes arrow and spear points, still they have 

 had sufficient care bestowed upon them to show that they were for an 

 important purpose. They are quite abundant in the bed of the river at 

 Trenton ; whether lost during a battle, or overboard during fishing ex- 

 cursions, it is impossible to state ; but while, as a class, they certainly 

 have a very warlike appearance, they Avould make admirable sturgeon- 

 spears, for which purpose they were probably used, since sturgeon was 

 once extremely numerous in the Delaware. 



Figure 31 represents an average specimen of these long, slender, fine- 

 edged slates, which we have designated lance-heads. They vary little 

 from five to seven and one-half inches in length by from two to three 



