872 PAPERS RELATING TO ANTHROPOLOGY. 



beyond their allotted boundaries, they would, like more modern people, 

 find that a decided limit can be given to conscientious scruples by per- 

 sonal interests ; hence it would behoove them to secure their flint as 

 quickly as possible and get back to their own hunting grounds, unless, 

 indeed, they had the means to supply themselves with provisions from 

 the owners of the surrounding country, for supijorting themselves, in 

 case a longer sojourn was desirable. So that they would chip their 

 flint to a portable size and shape, and carry it thus with them to such 

 points as they chose, and there take all the time necessary for dressing 

 and finishing it up. 



The caches of so-called "disks," "scrapers," "leaf-shaped implements," 

 " turtle-backs," or " hatchets," as they are variously named in so many 

 localities where they are found, which may be regarded as nothing more 

 or less than such unfinished pieces, render this theory plausible ; and 

 it certainly loses no strength if we accept the statement quoted some 

 pages back that "fresh" flint is much more readily worked than "dry." 

 Burying it in the ground would allow it to remain in working order much 

 longer than if it were exposed to the atmosphere. 



The finely dressed arrows or knives sometimes found, and the few 

 "circles" in the vicinity, do not militate against the theory; in fact, 

 they rather strengthen it ; for such of the natives as lived within a short 

 distance could well spare tbe time necessary to complete their work 

 while they were about it, and the defensive ijosition indicated by the 

 fort and " circles" is only such a precaution as would naturally be taken 

 by a settled people who were compelled to allow strangers or even enemies 

 to remain so near them unmolested. Three hours' time, or even less, 

 would have allowed a treacherous, hostile party to reach the Newark 

 works from the Ridge, and it was only a matter of ordinary prudence 

 to keep a look-out for such a contingency. The position of the fort, too, 

 sui^ports this view, being located, as it is, so far west of the nearest point 

 to their settlements where any work was done, although a limit had 

 been set past which none were allowed to go. 



If it be objected to all this that it makes the Indian and the Mound 

 Builder the same person, let it be remembered that no one has yet 

 proven that the Indian was not a Mound Builder, or that the Mound 

 Builder did not do this work on Flint Ridge. 



Whether there is anything in these two " explanations" which possi- 

 bly " do not explain," or whether a combination of both may better suit 

 the case, or whether, finally, the facts must be explained by a new 

 hypothesis, archaeologists may determine. The writer, not professing to 

 be posted in the science, simply submits such thoughts as will suggest 

 themselves to any one who may go over the ground carefully ; and ir 

 these observations will throw any light upon this interesting subject, 

 or afford any information, let it be taken for what it is worth. 



Strict accuracy is not claimed for the accompanying map. A person, 

 without instruments or assistance, attempting to get area and distance 



