374 ETHNOLOGY. 



long, flat stones, each possessing certain cLaracteristic marks, which de- 

 cide that it is, in arcbseological i)arlance, either a stone-hammer or a pol- 

 ishing-tool — a tool to block out or a tool for finishing an implement. 



Figure 217 represents a good average specimen of a stone or flaking 

 hammer such as found in New Jersey. It is a triangular sandstone peb- 

 ble, the sides measuring about three inches each. The thickness of the 

 specimen is a little less than two inches. On each side, very nearly in 

 the center of the specimen, is a shallow, circular pit or depression, for 

 the insertion of the ends of the thumb and second finger, the forefinger 

 being curved over the margin of the stone-hammer. Held thus, we find 

 it a useful tool, that does not weary the hand in holding, and is admira- 

 bly adapted for the purposes intended by the original owner, that of 

 chipping stones into desired shapes for arrow and spear points, and 

 "pecking" the unshapely water- worn cobble-stones into axes. 



If this specimen, figure 217, is held in the manner above described, it 

 will be noticed that the outermost angle of the stone as then held has a 

 battered appearance, which feature is proof positive of the correctness 

 of the designation of the specimen as a stone-hammer. In the case of 

 figure 173, two of the angles have been considerably battered, one much 

 more than the other, showing that when one projecting point was too 

 much worn the stone was shifted so that a new angle was the outermost. 

 In this specimen, one angle has been completely used up, another is 

 somewhat worn or battered off, the third is still intact. We have sel- 

 dom met with an example of stone-hammer that told the story of its use- 

 fulness more plainly than this does. 



Figure 218 represents a smaller (circular stone or flaking hammer, of a 

 size and shape like the majority of those which we find, the circular form 

 being somewhat more abundant than the triangular. Figure 218, like 

 the preceding, has the characteristic finger-pits, which in this case are 

 considerably smaller in both measurements of diameter and depth. 

 These " finger-pits" are rudely " pecked" out, and are not smooth, truly 

 circular, or uniform as in those evidently drilled depressions noticed in 

 figures 209 and 215. 



Figure 218 is " completely battered up" over the whole extent of the 

 margin of the specimen, there being only a circular space about each 

 finger-pit of the natural surface of the water-worn pebble that has been 

 used in fashioning this hammer. These stone-hammers were continually 

 turned in the hand when being used, that they might retain their circu- 

 lar form. After being worn too small for " pecking " stone axes, they 

 were probably utilized as net-weights or war-club knobs. 



Figure 219 represents a third form of stone or flaking hammer which 

 has some interesting features. It is from a mineral which we do not 

 know, of blackish-brown color, and very smooth and j)olished upon the 

 natural surface. It has much the appearance of, but is not, a hornblende 

 pebble. 



This implement, instead of having the finger-pits of figures 217 

 and 218, has the natural, smooth surface of the pebble retained, and, 



