TUK MAMFACTLKK oV THK Tl-i:" WATTA, 



6. EVIDENCE OF THE MARGINAL CHIPPING. 



In a previous paper I pointed out that the origin of 

 sliai-penmg the edges of a flake was probably due to the 

 peculiarity of hoiuogeneous siliceous rocks, to produce some- 

 times a rounded instead of a sharp, cutting edge when the 

 fJake was struck off the parent block (1). 



Now, though it is pretty certain that the flakes were 

 struck off from the parent block by means of a spherical 

 or globular hammer-stone, sometimes of considerable 

 weight, it is very difficult to assume that the delicate and 

 regular marginal trimming was done with such an imple- 

 ment. When I find a flake of 70 mm- in length, having a 

 thickness of 2.3 mm. only, whose edge is most carefully and 

 delicately worked by chipping o£f small regular flakes. I 

 wonder whether this work can be done by means of a 

 clumsy, globular stone ? 



If it was done in this way, the Tasmanian aborigines 

 must have been exceedingly dexterous in wielding the 

 hammer-stones, because the marginal flakes have often been 

 struck off in such a regular" manner that it required the 

 greatest accuracy to direct the blow. To^ a modern mind 

 it seems almost incredible that such regular delicate work 

 could be done by means of a rough, clumsy hammer ; yet, 

 as we will presently see, it was done in such a way. We 

 know that in the higher palaeolithic stages the finer trim- 

 ming of the implements was done by means of a special 

 instrument, made of bone, by which thin flakes were press- 

 ed off As the use of bone for implements was unknown 

 to the Tasmanians, it is highly improbable that they ap- 

 plied such an instrument for the finer trimming of the tero- 

 watta (2). We may. therefore, dismiss this theory at once- 



Another theory, which is strongly supported by Dr. 

 Kutot, assumes that the marginal chipping of the European 

 archasolithes was done by means of a sharp-edged hammer, 

 which he calls "tranchet" or "retouchoir." This mav have 



'1) This feature Is. I may Fay, not .Imliod to the Tasmanian horn- 

 stonr-s, etc., but seeins to ho rommon to all homogeneous siliceous rocks 

 huviiiR a ponrhoidal fracture. Among tlie specimens from Chelles which 

 nr. Jtutot klndlv sent me. I found a filiit flake wlio)=e edge was rounded 

 off exactly in the same way as exhibited by some tero-watta. 



'2* I may add tliat if the aborigines liad used sucli an instrument, 

 it would not have escai)ed such nn acute observer as the late Mr. 

 Scott, and we certainly would have found pieces of bone indicating that 

 they were used for siicli a purpose. 



