HOLMES] ABORIGINAL AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES PART I 181 



eludes Ohio and parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ken- 

 tuck}'. Typical examples of the iinspecialized blades are shown in 

 figure 61 and of the finished implements in figure 02. 



The presence of large numbers of cores or nuclei (see fig. 87) indi- 

 cates that a product of much importance consisted of minute flake 

 blades, which probably served as knives. The very fine-grained flint 

 found at certain points on the ridge was perhaps better adapted to 

 this purpose than any other in the eastern half of the country, and 

 this is the only quarry- so far studied in which this particular work 

 was extensively carried on. 



Other quarries of the Flint Ridge system correspond closely in 

 all important respects with those described above, but none are as 

 representative or as extensive. 



Warsaw Quarries 



In Coshocton County, in the vicinity of "Warsaw, a number of 

 quarries have been examined with some care. One of these is well 

 characterized by Fowke in the following lines: 



Quarries of siliceous stone soniewlint similar to those at Flint Rid.ce exist along 

 the Walhondin?; River al)out 3 miles from Warsaw. The tlint 

 [Wars.iw Quarries] us ori.uinally deposited formed a continuous layer of varying 

 Avidth about 10 or 12 miles long ; but subsequently erosion has 

 left only comparatively small detached areas on or near the summits of hills and 

 ridges. At one place a narrow ridge extends for some distance between the 

 river and a tributary ravine, the flint forming the cap rock beneath a few feet 

 of earth. The aborigines began at the outcrop on one side and dug their way 

 through to the opposite side of the hill, removing all the flint and overlying 

 material, selecting what they could utilize and throwing the residue behind 

 them as they proceede<l. The space thus dug over is fully 5 acres. Many 

 circular pits, the largest not less than 100 feet in diameter, are to be seen oh 

 the level summits ; and much quarrying has been practiced along various out- 

 crops, the work progressing imtil the removal of overlying rock and earth 

 required an amount of labor too great for the reward. There is much variety 

 in the quality and appearance of the flint at this place. Part of it is cellular, 

 almost spongy, from the weathering out of fossils and various impurities. By 

 insensible gradations it passes into stone as compact and homogeneous as fine 

 agate. Seams of chalcedony, and cavities filled or lined with quartz crystals, 

 occur abundantly. Chert, glossy basanite, and small masses of chalcedony are 

 common. The color runs through various shades of white, black, blue, and red, 

 and there is also the pale amber or " honey color," very rare in this country. 

 Some is almost transparent, and from this it merges into complete opacity. 

 There seems to be no regular order in its arrangement ; sometimes there are 

 thick strata of considerable extent with but slight variation in character, while 

 again three or four sorts may be seen in one large block. One color may 

 gradually blend with another or the line of demarcation may be sharply defined 

 without the slightest change in other respects. Only a small proportion of the 

 deposit is of a character suitable for making implements, consequently less 

 digging has been done here than in beds considerably smaller elsewhere. The 

 difliculty of reaching deeply-buried parts has also been a deterrent to extensive 

 working. 



