6 



PERFORATED STONES 



others tend to the pyriform shape (Fig - . 3). California specimens vary 

 in weight from an ounce, or even less, to several pounds; the largest 

 specimen in the National Museum collection weighs seven pounds. 

 Though not as a ride ornamented, California specimens are sometimes 

 found which are decorated with lines and cross lines (Fig. 4). The 

 symmetry of many of the specimens and the labor and care necessay 

 to their production show that they possessed no little, value in the 

 eyes of their owners. 



A summary of the knowledge respecting this class of relics and a 

 large number of illustrations are to be found in a 

 chapter by Prof. F. W. Putnam, 1 in which is cited 

 a variety of evidence respecting the uses of 

 these stones in various parts of the world, as 

 hammer stones, weights for digging sticks, club 

 a heads, net sinkers, and spindle whorls. 



a Discussing the California specimens, Professor 

 P Putnam sa5 r s, p. 135: 



The particular uses to which these California stones 



were put will prohahly always remain conjectural, though 

 Fio. 3. Perforated stone, Santa l f J / . J 



Cruz Island, Southern Cali- lfc 1S evident that the wants or necessities they were in- 

 fornia. tended to supply must have been very common, since 



they are found to bo widely distributed among uncivilized tribes. 



Again he says, p. 1G1 : 



A careful study of tho hundred examples of these stones from California, now be- 

 fore me, has confirmed my belief that they were used for various purposes by the 

 old Californians, and that while some may, possibly, have been used as weights for 

 digging sticks- and for net sinkers, as Mr. Schumacher believes, it would certainly be 

 going too far to include all the specimens iu these two groups, even should we agree 

 with Mr. Schumacher in regarding many of the smaller specimens as toys for chil- 

 dren. 



As the use of these stones in California thus remains to a large extent 



conjectural, a circumstantial account of 

 the manner of their former employment, 

 received directly from California Indians 

 who had either used them themselves or 

 seen them in use, will not bo without 

 val ue. 



Having presented the evidence gathered 

 in relation to the California specimens, 

 brief mention will be made of certain per- 



Fig. 4. Perforated stone, Southern 



California. forated stones from other regions. 



The present notice will not, however, attempt exhaustively to treat 

 these relics as a class, as they occur all over the world, and espe- 

 cially will it not attempt to include all the various patterns and sizes 

 of perforated stones found elsewhere in the explanation of their uses 

 derived from the California Indians. For so widely do individual speci- 



1 Report U. S. Geog. Surv. West of the 100th Meridian, Vol. VII, Archeology. 



