140 CHIPPED STONE IMPLEMENTS. 



at Cambridge, are large, thin and well-chipped points 

 of flint which are fastened to short handles, by means of 

 a tenacious substance probably obtained from the cactus. 

 Representations of seven of these knives from two burial 

 caves are given in figures 7-13, as they form a very in- 

 teresting addition to our knowledge of at least one of 

 the methods of mounting the large chipped points, and 

 they also show that not all such points were spearheads. 



Although large rude implements, like those from the 

 Trenton gravel, were made by simply chipping off pieces 

 so as to leave a rough cutting edge or a point, the deli- 

 cately flaked knives from the Mexican caves required ad- 

 ditional work of a higher character. 



The art of making arrowheads and similar objects out 

 of stone is often stated to be one of the lost arts ; but 

 this is not the case, since at the present time there are 

 many Indians in this country, who continue to manufact- 

 ure them, and even work pieces of glass bottles into sym- 

 metrical and delicate arrowpoints. The method of making 

 the points has been described several times by eye-wit- 

 nesses, and although there is a difference in detail accord- 

 ing with the material used and the skill of the workman, 

 the manufacture may be described in general terms as 

 follows : 



A piece of that particular kind of stone, which experi- 

 ence has shown to be the best attainable for the purpose, is 

 selected and roughly shaped by striking blows with a 

 hammer-stone. If it is found to chip readily, it is shaped 

 still further by light blows along the edges, each blow strik- 

 ing off a chip. Partly wrapped in a piece of skin, it is then 

 held in the left hand and finished by flaking off little 

 bits. This delicate part of the work is done with a flak- 

 ing tool made usually of a piece of bone or antler. This 



