114 iritlllKK NuTKfS ON HAlillS (IK TASMaMAN AliOKlGlN KS. 



of the head. Here a piece of the original crust of dark 

 brown colour is still preserved, but there is no marginal 

 chipjDing up to the anterior end. From here the lower 

 edge is most carefully worked for its whole length. It is 

 obvious from the chipping that the deep anterior con- 

 cavity of the margin is intentional and not accidental. 

 The chipping is particularly careful at the lower edge of 

 the anterior extremity, and but .somcwh:it less on its pos- 

 terior side. Unfortunately, a fi"agment broke oflF the pos- 

 terior extremity, though, to judge from the patina, this 

 damage must have been caused at the time of manufac- 

 tvirc- It appears, however, that the posterior side was 

 much less carefully chipped than the other edges. 



The indical face is llat. and shows the traces of a few 

 large flakes being broken off- The pollical face is flat, but 

 somewhat wrinkled ; no bulb of percussion is visible, but 

 it appears probable that it was situated at the point of the 

 posterior extremity. 



Well may we ask, what was the use of this remark- 

 able specimen, sujDposing it were used as an implement? 

 The three concavities might suggest the use as a scraper 

 for spears or hunting-sticks. Assuming this being so. it is 

 impossible to account satisfactorily for the fine chipping of 

 the lower edge of the anterior extremity. This could not 

 have possibly served any useful purpose, because of the 

 thinness of the anterior extremity, which is only 3 mm. 

 At the base where it measures 23 mm. in width, the thick- 

 ness is slightly larger, being 6 mm., while the total length 

 is 26 mm. If any strain or hard pressure were brought on 

 this thin piece of stone, either at its lower or its lateral 

 edges, it would break off at once. This fact makes it im- 

 possible to assume that this part of the stone ever served 

 any useful purpose. The same applies to the posterior 

 extremity. 



The upper edge may have been used as a scraper, but, 

 admitting this, we may rightly ask : Why, then, was the 

 lower edge so carefully hollowed out and chipped to such 

 an extent that even the thin piece separating the anterior 

 and the middle concavity was chipped at its lower edge, 

 when all this work was to no useful object whatsoever? 



The study of the tero-watta has revealed some 

 str3.nge features of the mental state of the aborigines. 

 Admitting that they did a good deal contrary to modern 

 expectations, it would certainly go too far to assume 



