SMITHSONIAN AKCII^OLOGICAL COLLECTION. 



17 



The lower portion is often smoothed by wear. These implements, like the 

 preceding kind, probably were attached to handles and used in digging the 

 ground for agricultural and other purposes. Both varieties consist of corres- 

 ponding materials, and sometimes occur together in mounds and subterranean 

 deposits. 



14. Wedge or Celt-shaped Implements. — They consist mostly of silicious 



materials, and bear some resemblance to the rough-hewn Hint celts of IsTorth- 

 ern Europe. 



B. PECKED, GROUND AND POLISHED STONE. 



1. Wedges or Celts." — They form a numerous class of IS'orth American 

 implements, occurring on the surface of the soil and occasionally in mounds, 

 and were doubtless applied to different uses for which their shape and size 

 suited them. They are sometimes rudely pecked or chipped into form, and 

 merely sharpened at the cutting edges; but in general they are entirely 

 ground, and not a few of them exhibit a beautiful polish. Their length varies 

 from an inch and an inch and a half to a foot and more. They consist of 

 diilerent kiiids of stone, such as diorite, syenite, hornljlende rock, serpentine, 

 etc., and even soft slates have sometimes furnished their material.*^ Occasion- 



CELT6 (|). 



ally specimens made of silicious varieties (hornstone, jasper, lydite) are met, 

 and very small celts consisting of hematite occur in different parts of the 



* From tlic Latin word cclti's or celtes, a chisel. 

 ^In Mexico celts of jade are uot uiifrequcnt. 



