192 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 93 



bone were recovered. Sterns (191 5 a, II, p. 188) found one notched 

 rib needle, one plain rib needle, one ulna awl, and three rough bone 

 punches. The types are generally similar to those just described. 



We found one triangular piece of heat-tempered bison scapula, 

 96 mm long and 61 mm wide, that had been sharpened on the end 

 and along one side. The worn-down end showed the most extensive 

 use, whereas the sharpened edge seemed to be a secondary adaptation 

 of a broken artifact. Its original use may have been as a digging tool, 

 the broken part of which was later used as a scraper. Sterns found a 

 similar broken scapula artifact. One heat-tempered bird bone bead 

 55 mm long and 8 mm in diameter was recovered. Sterns also found 

 one bird-bone bead. A unique artifact found in our excavation is a 

 carefully perforated phalange of some medium-sized animal (pi. 18, 

 fig. 2, j) . The core at the large end has been removed to form a conical 

 hole, and the small end has been neatly perforated by a small hole in 

 the center. This gives every evidence of having served as the end cup 

 of a " ring-and-pin " game (Culin, 1907, pp. 527-561). It is an 

 interesting clue to the antiquity of this widespread game in the 

 central plains. 



Work in Anti.ek 



Four antler artifacts were recovered in our excavations. Sterns 

 reports no artifacts of this material. Two of the above artifacts are 

 deer or elk horn knapping tools. One of these (pi. 18, fig. 2, i) has 

 been worn smooth by use and the tip of the tine has been ground down 

 to a chisellike edge. The butt end is either broken or was severed 

 by the original owner. From its size the material may be elk horn. A 

 rather similar deer antler tine knapping tool, 14 cm in length, has a 

 smaller but equally used point. Another fragmentary section of deer 

 antler from which a side tine has been cut off suggests part of a 

 similar flaking tool. Considering the small amount of chipped stone 

 recovered, it is somewhat surprising to find as many knapping tools 

 as finished flaked stone implements. Such a function, however, would 

 seem to fit the antler artifacts in question, though of course they may 

 have served some other purpose. One unusual deer antler tine " pick " 

 is figured (pi. 18, fig. 2, k). This artifact has been cut off at one 

 end to form a round butt. It is worn at the butt end as though for- 

 merly socketed and also shows extensive wear on the side where it 

 curves up to the naturally pointed and little worn tip. Its function 

 is problematical. 



