STONE AGE IN NEW JERSEY. 273 



quarter iiicbes in widtli. It is chipped from bluisli-gray jasper, and 

 varies but little from the preceding except iu size. The edges are still 

 quite sharp aud the point good, although the extreme point is appar- 

 ently worn away. There is nothing about this specimen or the preced- 

 ing to indicate iu what manner a handle was attached, and yet without 

 handles these implements seem comparatively valueless, the cutting- 

 edges extending so far down as to jeopardize the hand if held naked 

 when striking. 



These smaller specimens of lance-heads are far less abundant than 

 those of the larger, more slender type, which usually are made of slate, 

 as figured in the first pages of this chapter. 



Mr. Evans has figured and described several specimens of well-chipped 

 flint implements, which he calls " daggers." They are usually longer, 

 but otherwise identical with the average slate and jasper specimens we 

 have called " lance-heads," particularly such specimens as figure 30. Mr. 

 Evans mentions, however, that these same specimens are also termed 

 spear-heads, lance-heads, &c. We cannot think they were ever used as 

 " daggers " or " knives " by the aborigines of New Jersey ; either name 

 suggesting a short handle, and the use that of a tool rather than that 

 of a weapon ; for surely no dagger, as a weapon, would be useful with 

 a blade as obtusely pointed as even figure 35. We have to describe iu 

 another chapter chipped flints, that we doubt not were true knives ; but 

 they differ materially from those we term " lance-heads." The whole 

 finish, size, and shape of the " daggers " figured by Mr. Evans, and the 

 "lanceheads" illustrated in this chapter, would show that a long shaft 

 was originally attached, and that the weapon was then used in trans- 

 fixing animals in the chase, or, giving the weapon all the force that 

 could be brought to bear upon it, in impaling an enemy in battle. As a 

 head for such lance, these specimens seem in every way appropriate j 

 but we perceive nothing desirable about them as " daggers," especially 

 after examining the beautiful flint-daggers of Scandinavia, which are in 

 all respects admirable for the purposes implied by the term " dagger." 



There are abundant instances where the use and proper name of an 

 implement are matters of doubt ; but to call such specimens as we have 

 designated '' lance-heads" by a name that expresses a use to which we 

 could not put them only increases the coniusion caused by want of 

 some safe rule by which to be guided. So, too, these " lance-heads " 

 have been called knives, and CKcellent spear-points have been so called 

 by Nilsson. He says, "A spear is, properly speaking, nothing but a 

 * * * knife fastened to a long shaft. It is, therefore, often impossi- 

 ble to judge from the blade whether it has l)een a S2)car or a l-nife."' Of 

 the American specimen above alluded to, he says tluit the handle was 

 five inches long, and a loop was fastened to the handle. Judging from 

 the plate, the loop and short handle were to be fastened, the one by the 

 other, to a long shaft, which would thus nuikc a good weapon of what 

 seems now but a very awkward tool, and one that appears the more un- 

 necessary as excellent and undoubted knives are quite abundant. 

 S. Mis. 115 18 



