66 Proceedings of Indiana Academy of Science 
of them are marvels of symmetrical carving and polishing, and how 
they had the skill and patience to work them out in granite by ham- 
mering and rubbing with other stones is almost beyond comprehension. 
They are rare in the eastern and southern states and none to speak 
5 
Fig. 7. Grooved Stone Axe. 
of are found in Mexico. Figure 7 shows a most symmetrical grooved 
axe. While its symmetry is most striking, it would not be expected that 
art features would be worked out in granite. The polls of these axes 
are usually as carefully proportioned as the blade and seldom show 
hard wear, although a good many show rough usage. The contrary is 
usually the case with the blade, as a large proportion show evidences of 
having been carefully worked over, as in case of the specimen illus- 
trated, which evidently has been worked over and over to give a sharp 
cutting edge. The deep groove is a problem, for the work to secure it 
is all out of proportion to what would be necessary to hold a withe 
wrapped for a handle. The use, whatever it might have been, to which 
this implement was put, must have been a most important one, and one 
requiring skill and accuracy. It has been thought that the spalls, flakes 
or blanks chipped from masses of flint for use in subsequently fashion- 
ing arrow and spear heads were secured by knocking them off with 
hammer stones. This would seem a very crude process for so delicate 
a requirement. While the writer has not known of the grooved axe 
or its companion piece, the symmetrical and sharp-edged celt having 
been mentioned as suitable for this flaking process, that method is 
offered here as a possible solution. Flint specimens are found which 
are worked to a knife edge and to a needle point, and it is understood 
to have been done with a notched bone implement under steady and 
skilful pressure. It is known that flint and glass work with a cleavage 
