26 



AMERICAN MUSEUM GUIDE LEAFLETS 



have been used as adzes. From the 

 worn and hammered appearance of the 

 polls of some celts, it is possible that 

 many of these implements were used 

 as wedges in splitting wood, after 

 constant manipulation in their chop- 

 ping capacity had permanently dulled 

 their edges. 



The celts of this region are, as a 

 general thing, poorly made, a pebble of 

 suitable shape having an edge ground 



broader than the butt, although some 

 exceptions have been found. The 

 forms are as follows: a, rough stone 

 celts, pebbles with one end ground to 

 an edge, but otherwise scarcely worked ; 

 and b, worked stone celts, which 

 include the following: 



1. Wedge-shaped, poll narrower 

 than bit, and angles rounded. 

 Common. 



2. Like number one, but with bit 



HAFTED CELT FROM A POND AT THORNDALE, DUTCHESS CO., N. Y. 



Length of celt 16.6 cm. 



on it with little or no preliminary shap- 

 ing. More rarely, however, they were 

 carefully worked all over by pecking 

 and polishing, as in the case of the 

 grooved axe. 



In type, aside from the general 

 division of rough and worked celts, we 

 may add that most celts in this region 

 have slightly rounded polls, the bit 



much broader than poll. Cross- 

 section oval. Very rare. 



3. Like number one, but one side 

 flat, other beveled at one end to 

 make a cutting edge. 



4. Like number two, but with cut- 

 ting edge flaring, broader than 

 body. "Bell-mouthed type." 

 Very rare. 



