JHANCON] EXCAVATIONS IN THE CHAMA VALLEY 29 
SPATULAS 
This type of artifact has given rise to a good deal of speculation as 
to its actual use. Resembling as it does certain tools of the mod- 
ern sculptor, it has been suggested that it was used in the molding 
of pottery. Unless the ancient potters used a radically different 
method of making their pots from that of the Pueblos of to-day, 
this theory would not hold good. The author has seen many pieces 
of pottery in the course of construction and completion, and has 
never seen a tool of the character of a spatula used in any part of the 
process. It is very true that the sharp end of the spatula could have 
been used for making the incisions on the incised ware, but it is not 
reasonable to suppose that they would go to the trouble of making 
as fine and elaborate a tool as a spatula and only use one end of it. 
(Bio 3d.) 
It has also been suggested that they were used in the process of 
weaving in a similar manner to that of the ‘comb’ used by the 
Navajo weavers. 
It has also been suggested that the broad end of the spatula was 
used to scatter sacred meal or pollen in some of the ceremonies. 
If we had any definite knowledge of the use to which this type of 
artifact was put it would be easy to account for the diversity in form 
and size of spatulas found. Plate 31, A, has a hole bored in the side 
of the broad end of it. The group shown in Plate 31 vary in length 
from 183 to 88mm. The broad ends vary from 27 to 15 mm. in 
width. Some of them have very sharp points and others have the 
points broken off. The polished surfaces show considerable wear. 
Bone Knire BLADES 
Owing to the fact that Plate 31, B, C, are strongly suggestive of 
knife blades, they have been tentatively called by that name. As 
in the case cf the spatulas, their use is difficult to imagine. The 
cutting edge is not sharp enough to be of any practical value, and 
even if affixed to a wooden handle, such as is sometimes fastened to a 
stone blade, the brittle quality of the bone would preclude any great 
amount of service. 
Bonet IMPLEMENTS OF UNCERTAIN USE 
The large shoulder blade (pl. 26, B) is probably that of an elk or 
large deer. The use to which it was put is problematic. There are 
two purposes to which it is admirably suited, the one as a spade 
for digging, the other as a flesher. By laying the green hide on the 
ground and using the shoulder blade as a chisel for scraping off the 
remaining shreds of flesh it would be very effective. It is 288 mm. 
in length and 191 mm. in width at the widest part of the blade. 
