Hrdlu^ka] stone industries OF THE ARGENTINE COAST 133 



presence of the hammers, anvils, and flakes make this entirely clear. 

 That they were left on these sites in large numbers is attested by the 

 many examples obtained by collectors. No one will claim that these 

 sites along the arid seashore were very largely occupied for dwelling 

 or for any industrial purpose other than that of making stone imple- 

 ments and it is safe to conclude that if the pebble nuclei were used 

 at all, it was in the stone-shaping work, but we are entirely at a loss 

 to imagine how these could have served in shaping any of the known 

 implements of the Argentine coast. 



That these flaked pebbles were not intended to be held in the hand 

 as hatchets, chisels, or scrapers, is apparent from the fact that a 

 majority of them are fractured at both ends and are so uneven as to 

 injure the hand if thus used. The fact that all are not fractured at 

 both ends signifies nothing more than that the fracturing blow or 

 blows took efl'ect at one end of the pebble only instead of at both as 

 was more usual. Their shapes do not indicate in any way that they 

 were intended for hafting, although hafting after the manner of 

 hatchets, scrapers, or knives would not be difficult, either by setting 

 them in a socket in a handle of wood or bone, or by fastening the 

 haft about the middle by means of thongs; but there is no reason 

 for assuming their utilization in any of these ways. 



In advancing any theory of a possible purpose or use for these 

 objects, we are met by the significant fact tliat they were left in large 

 numbers on the sites of manufacture, whereas if intended for use 

 they would not have been left but rather would have been distributed 

 far and wide, especially to the sites of permanent dwellings in the 

 vicinity of a fresh-water supply. That they have no particular 

 adaptation for use is made apparent by an examination of the flaked 

 ends, which are notched and bruised from the hammer blows and 

 are rarely so even-edged as to fit them for cutting and scraping. The 

 strongest claim they have to serious consideration is that in cases 

 the flaked ends present an appearance of wear as if from use. This 

 appearance is limited to a blunting or rounding of some of the frac- 

 tured ends; but a close inspection shows that this result is such as 

 might be produced and in all probability was produced by the repeated 

 blows of the hammer in attempts to detach desirable flakes. That 

 these chipped pebbles were occasionally devoted incidentally to some 

 purpose to which they happened to be adapted is probable, but the 

 claim that they were designed for any particular use can not be 

 substantiated. 



The facts that they were left on the sites of manufacture, that they 

 show no clear adaptation to any particular use, that they present no 

 certain evidence of having been used, that they show no trace of 

 specialization beyond that produced by the direct blows of the 

 hammer on the ends, and that the flakes made from them were used 



