NO. 12 MONACAN TOWNS IN VIRGINIA BUSIINELL 2^ 



thing- of the same sort. The pointed projection was undoubtedly 

 fashioned to be inserted in a base or body to hold it in an upright 

 position. Unfortunately very little is known of the customs and 

 beliefs of the people who once occupied the ancient village. 



Chipped objects, usually with ground edges and showing evidence 

 of much use, are quite numerous on the site and many have been 

 discovered during the past few years. All are crudely made — rough 

 but apparently well suited for some definite purpose. The actual use 

 of these specimens is not known although the majority may have been 

 implements used in and about the village. Possibly some were hafted 

 to serve as hoes in the gardens, others may have been inserted in 

 wooden handles forming serviceable weapons. Four distinct forms 

 are recognizable but no attempt will be made to distinguish them by 

 name. They will be described and referred to as types A, B, C, and D. 

 Examples of the four types, belonging to the collection, are illustrated 

 in the plates. 



Type A, plate 4. This is the simplest form. The great majority 

 are made of greenstone, which occurs on the site. The two specimens 

 at the top of the plate are exceptionally well made — far superior to 

 the average. The cutting edge is sharp and well ground. The three 

 examples below are rather more characteristic and many similar pieces 

 have been recovered. The cutting edge of the largest of the three 

 has been battered and worn away, causing it to become concave, as is 

 shown in the photograph. However, the extremities of the edge, both 

 above and below, are smoothed from use. 



Type B, plate 5. These are the most interesting and distinctive 

 objects found on the site. The flaring blade is quite unusual, and the 

 narrow base suggests the use of a wooden handle in which the stone 

 may have been inserted. Similar specimens have been recovered from 

 the site of Monahassanugh, on the bank of the James. (Compare 



fig- 4-) 



Type C, plate 6. Examples of this type are widely distributed 

 throughout piedmont Virginia and eastward. All are recognized by 

 the slight grooves on the narrow, opposite sides. They vary somewhat 

 in detail, but are usually very rough, crudely made, and very often 

 with the surface greatly weathered. These are far more numerous 

 than the better made specimens with ground or polished surfaces 

 and clearly defined grooves. Two of the latter are shown in plate 7. 



Type D, plate 7. A type specimen is shown at the bottom of the 



plate, the distinguishing feature being the two cutting edges at opposite 



ends. A number of examples of this type have been discovered on 



the site but the majority are crude and roughly made, some being 



3 



