156 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 60 



and consequent increase in demand the gathering became an industry 

 in which the communities situated within convenient reach of abun- 

 dant supplies of the raw material collected systematically and not 

 infrequently employed the surplus product in trade with communi- 

 ties less favoraldy situated. It may be inferred that the growth of 

 the industry finally led to the opening of quarries of the various 

 kinds of desirable minerals and to the development of trade, which 

 distributed the readily portable lu'oducts over wide areas, extending 

 far beyond the range of the tribes controlling the source of supply. 

 Instances are recorded in which the possession of desirable quarry 

 sites led to contention and bloodshed between neighboring tribes. 

 The Avoi'k of quai'rjnng began with the removal of fragments or 



masses of desirable material partially buried in the 

 tions"^* °* pel a- gj.Q,^|j^j_ j^ ^y.^^ ]J^^^ .j g^^.p further to the uncovering 



and removal of portions wholly buried and but a 

 series of progressive steps to S3'stematic quarrying on a large scale. 

 Ancient exca\ations wliere stone was obtained, surrounded by the 

 debris of implement making and the inqilements employed, are of 

 common occurrence throughout the United States and doubtless 

 throughout America, and the great extent of the operations indi- 

 cated is in many cases a matter of astonishment. 



It is assumed that fire was employed in breaking up the larger 



and more intractable bodies of rock, when not re- 

 ofm-rv^woii'/ ^^ quircd iu bulk, but the extent of its application in 



the mining work can only be conjectured. Naturally, 

 heavy, tough stones, as bowlders of quartzite. diorite, and granite, 

 were used as sledges to break up the rock, but these implements 

 would not always serve when large bodies or massive strata were 

 to be worked. In cases where the material sought was embedded in 

 relatively small (luantities in solid rock of different constitution, as 

 with native copper, turquoise, and mica, the inclosing rock body 



had to be broken up and removed bit by bit. The 

 Quarryins of Nod- ^.^^^ ^^.^^ ditfcreut witli bowldcr and nodule deposits 



uies and BowldiTS J- 



where the matrix was sand, clay, or gravel. In these 

 quarries stone picks and antler points were used in penetrating the 

 deposits, and masses of the material worked were loosened b}' under- 

 mining. 



Soapstone and fire clay, after uncovering, were obtained by cutting 



out suitable masses with picks and chisels of stone; 

 Quarrying of Soap- .^j^j ^\^q masscs of stouc rcciuired for large utensils, 



stone aud r.uildin^ i <> i i i -i t i^ 



Stone works of sculpture, and building, were hewn out at 



the expense of great labor with the aid of heavy stone 

 picks and hammers. 



