ABORIGINAL CHIPPED STONE IMPLEMENTS OF NEW YORK 15 



In chipped or flaked implements the simplest form was that of the 

 knife, which might sometimes be used for a spear, but not often for 

 an arrow-head, unless of unusual symmetry. Many simple flakes 

 were employed for this, the edge being sharply and neatly chipped. 

 Some of these inconspicuous flakes show better workmanship in 

 these edges than large and symmetrical implements, but they seem 

 to have served only a temporary purpose. A knife was wanted; a 

 flake was picked up, to which in a few moments an edge was given ; 

 it was used and thrown away. So that it was sharp, little more was 

 required for mere use, but in many cases knives were both large and 

 beautiful. As has been said, in an emergency almost any article 

 might serve as a knife, but there are many special forms. When the 

 surface was bent, as was often the case, knives were probably used 

 also as scrapers, without having the distinct scraper edge. Some 

 agree with Loskiel's description, who says, ' their knives were made 

 in a long triangular shape, the long sides being sharpened.' 



ARROW MAKING 



In an excellent article on the stone art of the Mississippi valley, 

 (13th Annual report of the bureau of ethnology, p. 139-42) Mr Gerard 

 Fowke gives an extended account of arrow making, as practised in 

 different places. Without going into full detail, it may be well to 

 say here that chipping was usually done by pressure or percussion. 

 In almost all cases, a piece of horn or bone, slightly notched, was 

 used as a flaker. The process has been observed by many, for it is 

 not an extinct art, although steel is now often substituted for horn 

 or bone, and glass for stone. Any stone which will admit of a con- 

 choidal fracture, and some which will not, may be used; for large 

 implements, and even for small, a siliceous limestone or even sand- 

 stone was often employed. Quartz was used, but some varieties 

 were not adapted for delicate work, while for large implements it 

 was a showy material. 



Usually the stone is held in one hand, or placed on wood, buck- 

 skin, a blanket, or other yielding substance. More rarely it is held 

 against a stone anvil, and chipped with a stone hammer. Simple 

 pressure suffices in most cases, the bone flaker being set against the 



