28 



It is certain that the Archaeolithic and, perhaps, also 

 •some of the Eolithic implements were chiefly used in tiie 

 manufacture of the wooden spears and waddies. It is 

 almost sad to think what an enormous amount of time 

 and labour has been spent by the Aborigines, mainly to 

 shape these poor tools in order, produce with their assist- 

 ance an equally inefficent weapon. It is almost incom- 

 prehensible to our modern mind, that not one of these 

 human beings that were bom, lived and died, for gene- 

 rations uncounted, had the inventive genius or lucky idea 

 to improve the efficiency of their stone implements by sub- 

 stituting the artificial handle to the natural one of the 

 hand. This is, to my mind, one of the greatest problems 

 in the psychology of this race. 



If we muster a collection of Tasmanian Archseolithes 

 in order to ascertain which of them were most suitable 

 ior the above mentioned purpose, we find that, except a 

 few thin flakes, (group D) and some of the thin and point- 

 ed knives of group F, almost every specimen could be used 

 in the manufacture of spears- The concave scrapers (group 

 G) were most probably used to give the last polish, and to 

 sharpen the end. 



The heavier and stronger Archseolithes and, in particu- 

 lai-, most probably the Diabas Eolithes were used for cut- 

 ting notches into the bark of trees, which were ascend- 

 ed To hunt for opossums. (1). 



The more delicately wrought lamelliform implements 

 of groups D and F were probably used as knives for cut- 

 ting the meat of roasted animals, as well as in skinning 

 them, if ever a skin was required. The sharpest specim.ens 

 were probably used to produce the scars, and to cut the 

 liair, though the latter could be equally well, if not better, 

 performed with two more solid implements as long as 

 the working edge was sharp enough. 



Those implements which terminated in a particularly 

 acute point, group Fe., and, perhaps, also those of group 

 Gc, were used as borers to perforate the shells and bones 

 worn as ornaments. 



Another purpose for which some of the Archseolithes 

 may have been used, was probably for lighting a tire- 

 Ling Roth is very adverse to this view, notwithstanding 

 the evidence of Furneaux and La Billardiere. Sir John 

 Evans has, however, proved that primitive man of Europe 

 produced fire by means of a piece of iron pyrites and a timt. 

 Iron pyrites, or, for the matter of that, copper pyrites is 

 by no means rare in Tasmania, and the probability that 



(I) Several writers refer to the fact that the women, when ascending the tree, 

 used to carr> the stone implement on their heads. The fiat columnar pieces of 

 Diabas would be eminently suitable for such a purpose if in general use, and not only 

 ■oecasionally resorted to. 



