NO. 4 SAN JON DISTRICT, NEW MEXICO ROBERTS 1 5 



unquestionably belongs to the general bison-hunting complex of the 

 Plains and where found in Pueblo sites of the eastern periphery- 

 is an introduced form and good evidence for trade relations. (Kidder, 

 1932, pp. 30-34). 



Choppers consist of large pebbles or fragments of stone with broad 

 flaking along one side or an end (pi. 7). In rare cases there was a 

 little secondary chipping but they mainly were fashioned, like many 

 of the scrapers, with a minimum of effort. Frequently the removal 

 of one or two flakes sufficed to form a satisfactory working edge. 

 The remaining smooth surfaces would serve to protect the hand of 

 the user. From their occurrence in the excavations it was evident 

 that these objects had been employed in cracking and splitting bones. 

 This type of tool is commonly found at sites attributable to hunting 

 peoples or those who depended on game for a large part of their 

 sustenance. 



Hand hammers are simple round or ovoid-shaped pebbles that 

 generally exhibit a slight amount of pecking or pitting, probably the 

 fortuitous result of use, along one side or on each end (pi. 7). They 

 are of a size that can be gripped in the hand, 3 inches {'j.^) cm.) to 

 5 inches (12.7 cm.) in diameter, and no doubt served for knocking 

 flakes from nodules in the manufacture of implements and for general 

 pounding purposes under conditions where such a tool was needed. 

 Some are suggestive of what has been termed the Plains Maul 

 (Sayles, 1935), although in no case is there any indication of polish 

 around the central portion of the body nor the slightest trace of an 

 encircling groove, features common to that implement. The Plains 

 Maul usually is associated with the complex of agricultural and 

 seed-gathering peoples. One of its purposes may have been that 

 of pecking out depressions in stones intended for grinding and in 

 shaping the smaller stones used with them, in which case it would 

 be most efficient as a hand tool. That it had other functions, however, 

 is indicated by the polished central portion or shallow groove evincing 

 hafting in some sort of handle. There was not much indication that 

 the inhabitants had practiced agriculture in the vicinity of the San Jon 

 site, but that they took advantage of the abundance of natural products 

 is suggested by the presence of hand stones or manos and milling 

 stones or metates. Both of which may have been shaped by artisans 

 employing hand hammers or mauls of the type found here. 



The hand stone or manos for grinding are rather nondescript and 

 all are of the single hand size (fig. 3). Some are oval in outline 

 with one flat and one convex grinding face. Others are roughly 



