STONE AGE IX NEW JEKSEY. 321 



general oatliue. It is carefully chipped tVoci slate, has the base sliari)Iy 

 edged at its lower margin, aud less so upon the sides. The stem or drill 

 has probably been longer, is nearly cylindrical, and is highly polished 

 at the end, which we think clearly indicates the use of this little imple- 

 ment. The size of this specimen suggests the probability of its having 

 been attached to a handle, and that it Avas then driven by a to and fro 

 motion. In some of the specimens of " breast-plates " which we have, 

 there is a series of " half" ridges in the hole, showing apparently where 

 the drill stopped to make a return motion. These ridges are similar 

 in appearance to those in the larger drilled holes of " banner-stones," 

 which, being perforated with a hollow drill, (probably a section of reed,) 

 have unbroken circles lining the holes ; while, when the stone drill was 

 used, it has produced, at least in some cases, a broken or half circle. 



Figure 143 is another example of the square-based drill ; it is of slate, 

 well chipped, aud more fancifully outlined at the base. The stem or 

 drilling i^ortion is quite long and unbroken, except the extreme point, 

 which was probably never very sharp. The stem is flatter than usual, 

 but quite stout, with a well-defined median ridge the whole length. This 

 specimen has a very arrow-head like appearance in its general outline. 

 It is large enough to be held in the hand for use in the manner sug- 

 gested. Why the base should be made somewhat flaring, or " barbed " 

 at its junction with the stem, is not clear, for, even if the object was 

 used as an arrow'-head,such a feature would not be of any value. Such 

 a shaped base is not uncomon, however, in the slate drills; but the 

 specimens of this mineral are usually nothing but bases. 



Figure 144: is a beautiful piece of carefully chipped yellow jasper, a 

 "drill" unquestionabl}^, but the drilling portion is unfortunately gone. 

 This instance, however, is instructive, inasmuch as the size of the 

 remaining portion of the specimen throws light upon these implements as 

 a class. If any doubt existed in the minds of others about the smaller 

 specimens, certainly it is clear that figure 141 is not an arrow-head. 

 Nor can it be said that it is unfinished. The edges of the quadrangular 

 base are carefully chipiied, and the lower margin in this specimen, as 

 in the preceding one, is brought to what would be considered in a knife 

 a good " cutting " edge. Such a chipped jasper, inserted into a wooden 

 handle, and operated with a bow-drill, or held in the hand and operated 

 by a wrist-motion, would prove satisfactory to the savage, to whom 

 time was a matter of no importance. Many of the drilled stones, how- 

 ever, were of much softer material than this jasper, and so would be 

 jjerforated without much difliculty. 



Figure 145 is an instance of how readily the drilling-stone passes into 

 the arrow-point proper. We incline to the opinion that this is a drilling- 

 stone aud not an arrow-point, as the i)oint or stem is well defined, and 

 appears to have been worn rather than broken. This specimen possesses 

 peculiar interest, in that it has decomposed to such an extent as to now 

 scarcely possess the consistency of chalk. Whether this degree of 



S. Mis. 115 21 



