564 RELICS OF AN INDIAN HUNTING GROUND. 



by but a siugle specimen? The most plausible inference is that the 

 two types were intended for different purposes; i)robably the axes 

 found here were carried about for general use, whilst the heavier 

 ones form the Susquehanna, often differently grooved, as stated, were 

 designed for some special use as boatbuilding. One of the axes, 

 weighing only one pound (Fig. 47), has two parallel grooves extending 

 entirely around. Of course, it is hard to assign the reason for two 

 grooves in such a light stone, when other axes weighing much more, 

 as Fig. 48, are provided with only one. This ax is slightly battered at 

 the bade, and has also a small piece out of one end of the moderately 

 siiarp edge. Tlicre is one noticeable difference between the edge of 

 this specimen and that of Fig. 48. Fig. 47 bears transverse strise on 

 its smooth sides near the edge, which evidently were made in sharpen- 

 iug it, whilst Fig. 48 is marked with rather coarse longitudhial striic. 

 The latter looks very much as though it had been used as an agricul- 

 tnral implement and had been scratched through such use. It has a 

 blunt edge, and, being of tough and hard material and of a pointed 

 shape, would have made a good digging tool. Fig. 40 is made of quartz- 

 ite. It is well wrought, and with the exception of a slightly broken 

 back, is without a flaw. We were not able to collect many axes, and 

 we do not know of more than 14 from the region in question. Of these, 

 the illustrated ones are the best specimens. The number found seems 

 comparatively large when the circumstances are considered. Axes, 

 being conspicuous objects, are amongst the tirst specimens picked uj). 

 And in a region cultivated for more than a hundred years, such as 

 this, it is quite i^robable that many of them were found and carried 

 away. Moreover, it is the custom of our farmers to collect the stones 

 from the fields and throw them into low and waste places. Several 

 of the axes were picked up in the i)ublic road, where they had been 

 thrown into mud holes along with other stones from the fields. Along 

 the Susquehanna it is not an unnsual thing for the lishermen to use 

 these axes, on account of their con venieut grooves, as sinkers for their 

 tish nets! Of course, whenever the strings with which they are tied 

 break, which often happens, the axes will be left amongst the water- 

 worn stones at the bottom of the river. 



Hammers. — Fig. 50 is a water-worn and smooth sandstone. It has 

 been slightly roughened on each side, near the center, by pecking. The 

 marginal area is less smooth than the rest of the surface, having been 

 evidently roughened, but not battered by use. The evidences of its use 

 by the Indians, whilst unmistakable, are very slight, and show that 

 this particular stone was selected because it naturally possessed the 

 desired shape. No doubt other worn pebbles were used as picked up 

 by the Indians; at any rate, we occasionally find a spherical stone with 

 ii battered margin that looks exactly like a much-used hammer, only 

 there are no pits pecked into it. 



