434 Thomas Thomsen 



Whetstones and Grinding stones. 



That whetstones should occur in great numbers among the ma- 

 terial from the Danmark Expedition is not surprising; it is rather 

 a matter for wonder that such should be entirely lacking in collect- 

 ions like Amdrup's and that of the Germania Expedition. They are 

 not represented in the illustrations given by Stolpe of the Nathorst 

 finds ;^ the only whetstones from North-east Greenland known in 

 the literature up to date are those from Ryder's Expedition, which 

 brought back several specimens.^ 



Of the 16 whetstones from the Danmark Expedition, 13 are shown 

 in PI. XXII, 1—13. The five first (1—5) have a round hollow for 

 the fingers scooped out at the ends — a peculiarity likewise found in 

 two of Ryder's •\ Notching midway down the narrow side to receive 

 a bearing thong, however, such as is found in Ryder's two, is not 

 found in any of the specimens in the present collection. Where the 

 stone has been intended to be slung, it has hung perpendicularly, 

 as in XXII, 2, 10, 11. No. 10 has, besides a hole at the upper left- 

 hand corner, also a partial bore at the lower end, this latter being, 

 apparently, the first attempt, which was relinquished, as the stone 

 at this part would have split if it were continued. The unfinished 

 boring of No. 11 is doubtless due to the same consideration; this 

 specimen was, when received, split completely through lengthwise; 

 the lower portion is lacking. In its original form it must have been 

 not a little longer, and, with its thickness of 23 cm., considerably 

 heavier than any of the others in 1 — 11, which vary from 6—10 cm. 

 in length, and 06 — Г4 in thickness, the majority being less than 0'8 

 thick. The breadth, which is more variable, does not in any case 

 exceed 3*5 cm. 



The whetstones shown under 1 — 11 have, although differing as 

 regards the degree of careful workmanship, certain characteristics in 

 common; all are fashioned from some kind of slate, are oblong, nar- 

 row, fairly flat, and with at least some attempt at shaping. Nos. 12 

 and 13, on the other hand, both fragments, are but roughly formed, 

 almost square in section, and very little shaped. The smaller one, 

 which has been used from several sides, measures from side to side 

 2*3 X 24 cm., the larger, measuring up to 52 x 3 cm., has the whet- 

 ting surface on one of the narrow sides. The stones of the former 

 class would have been used for whetting the edge of slate knives; 

 of the latter, one at least, which is of a harder stone, has doubtless 

 been intended for rougher use, possibly for grinding down the ma- 



^ Internationaler Amerikanisten Kongres, 14. Tagung. Stuttgart 1906. ^ Ryder I, 

 p. 332. 3 Loc. cit. Fig. 30. 



