V 



NOTES ON CERTAIN ARCHEOLOGICAL 

 SUBJECTS 



In presenting this section of this volume, we are keeping in mind 

 that our aim is to be of service to the new student, as well as to give 

 information to the professional archeologist. In our descriptions of 

 the various cultures and the various sites examined certain subjects 

 and certain specimens needing further description are mentioned. 

 In these notes, therefore, we have striven to supply information 

 along these lines. There is no pretense of exhaustiveness and no 

 attempt to cover all subjects. Part V is simply a series of notes 

 for the sake of convenience arranged in alphabetic order. Many 

 descriptions not here found may be treated in the general body of the 

 work. Consult the index for such topics. 



Adzes. Adzes are similar in outline to celts but are made with 

 one surface called the belly, flatter than the other or upper surface 

 called the back. They were designed in most cases to be mounted 

 flat like a steel adz of the present day. Certain forms had the butt 

 end inserted in an antler or wooden block, which in turn was hafted. 

 The Eskimo used this form recently. Some adzes have grooved 

 backs, similar to the grooved axe, but the underside that rested upon 

 the bed of the handle had no groove. 



Adzes are particularly numerous in central, southern and western 

 Xi'\v York. In all these localities the beveled type is frequent. It 

 is interesting to note the high degree of finish of most adzes, as 

 opposed to the rougher forms in which celts are found. Many have 

 a high polish and in numerous instances the material is of some 

 ornamental hard stone. The sizes vary, as in celts or gouges, from 

 very small forms measuring but little more than an inch to larger 

 ones measuring 10 or more inches. 



Adzes were wood-working tools probably used to dig into very 

 soft wood, or to remove the charred matter from utensils made 

 by the use of directed fire. Some may have been skin scrapers or 

 hide dressers. Adzes are less common on Iroquoian sites than celts, 

 being mostly found in places once occupied by tribes who used 

 grooved axes, notched flint points and spears, cord-marked clay 

 pottery, steatite vessels, banner stones and other "problematical 

 slates." The method of manufacture was identical to that of celts, 



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