ARKOWPOINTS, SPEARHEADS, AND KNIVES. 953 



the bump if he desired it to be stricken off, either with a direct stroke 

 of the hummer or by the mediatiou of a punch, thus reduciug its thick- 

 ness and makiug it the usual leaf-shaped implement. The conclusion 

 seems inevitable that his failure to do this is evidence of the want of 

 his desire to do so, and that he left it thus — si)ecimens being found 

 throughout the country — is evidence that he desired to make a differ- 

 ent implement from the leaf-shaped. This different implement was for 

 cutting and not for piercing, was to be held in the hand and not used as 

 a projectile, and finally is a knife and not an arrowpoint or spearhead. 



Detailed examination confirms the view that these implements were 

 intentionally manufactured and were not mere accidents or failures. 

 Plate ¥J represents two of these humpbacked implements, side and 

 edge views. From these it is evident that the making of the hump 

 is intentional. Not only is the hump recognized aud permitted, but 

 it has been adopted and treated accordingly. It has not here been 

 left rude or unseemly, but has been carefully smoothed by chi])ping 

 over its entire surface, the hump being as well preserved as in the 

 rudest specimens. The specimens in fhis plate are both of flint, one 

 from Wisconsin, the other from Georgia; both are flat on the bottom, 

 rounded on top, aud brought by chipping to a sharp cutting edge and 

 without point. If these two specimens were the only ones thus treated, 

 their evidence would be insufticient, but the Museum possesses numer- 

 ous examples of the same kind which tend to prove the same fact. 

 Plates 50 to 52 ])resent some of these specimens, and a comparison will 

 show the similarity. Their number shows that those in Plate 41) are 

 not isolated specimens, while their number and extensive distribution 

 throughout the country" demonstrates their common use as one of tlie 

 tools or implements belonging to the prehistoric culture of the country. 

 These plates are intended also as evidence of the major proposition — 

 that is, that many of the flint and other objects heretofore classed as 

 arrowpoints or spearheads were really knives. These implements have 

 no sharp i)oint8 and couhl never have served for any piercing or thrust- 

 ing purpose, but, on the other hand, have been made sharp on one, 

 rarely on both edges, and could have been used only for cutting. The 

 cutting edge is usually convex; the outer edge or back is thick and 

 heavy. It has not been worked, and must be held in the hand to be 

 used saw or knife fashion. It is submitted that they show themselves 

 to have been cutting implements used after the manner of knives, and 

 not to have been either arrowpoints or spearheads. 



The major proposition of this chajiter is that many aboriginal imple- 

 ments having the api^earance of arrowpoints or spearheads, and here- 

 tofore generally so classed, were not such, but were in reality knives 

 intended for cutting or sawing purposes. The specimens on Plate 53 

 are evidence in favor of this. The lower or butt end of these speci- 

 mens has a stem, with base, notches, shoulders, barbs, sharp edges, 

 etc, and in all these regards they resemble the ordinary arrowpoint 



