128 THE ABORIGINES OF PORTO RICO [eth. Axx. 25 



to the fourth type of three -pointed stones, although it shares with this 

 type the absence of head or lim})s. It is very probable that this is 

 an unfinished specimen, but it may possibly be a highly conventional- 

 ized form of the first tvpe. Its anterior and posterior projections 

 resemble knobs without sculpture, but there are indications of grooves 

 obscurely seen on the anterior and posterior sides of the base of the 

 conoid projection, suggesting that it was lashed to some foreign body. 

 It must be acknowledged that if this stone wei'e tied to the end of a 

 handle it would be a most effective weapon of defense, the conical pro- 

 jection serving the same purpose as the edge of a celt. It has been sug- 

 gested, in fact, that all these stones were weapons or heads of weapons, 

 the indications of lashings showing their former attachment to handles. 

 The highly ornamental forms would thus be regarded as merely cere- 

 monial, while forms such as that figured in plate L. e. are practical 

 weapons and were used in war. 



INTERPRETATION 



The author has discussed the meaning and use of these peculiar 

 objects in an article" from which the following quotation is extracted: 



The use of the tripointed stones is as enigmatical as that of the stone collars or 

 rings. Many authors have regarded them as idols, while othens consider them as 

 decorated mortars on which grain, seeds, or pigments were ground. In the latter 

 interpretation the conoid prominence is regarded as a support which was embedded 

 in the earth, thus imparting stability to the object, wliile the concave base, turned 

 uppermost, served as a grinding surface. 



Two objections may be urged to the theory that these triangular stones are mor- 

 tars or grinding implements. '' In the first place, we can hardly suppose that one of 

 these objects of the fourth type, which is only an inch in length, could have been 

 very effective if used in such a way; secondly, some of these specimens have all of 

 their sides as smooth as glass, showing no surface upon whicli anytliing could have 

 been ground. In the third type the conoid prominence is highly ornamented, which 

 would hardly be the case were this part buried in the ground, thus hiding the deco- 

 rations from view. The conoiil projection is not of proper shape for liolding in the 

 hand — a vital objection to the theory that the tripointed stones were used for 

 rulibing. 



But perhaps the strongest objection to the theory that the tripointed stones were 

 used as mortars or rubbing stones is presented by a specimen in the Latimer collec- 

 tion, which has a portion of the flat base covered by a superficial layer of resinous- 

 like gum or varnish. Tliere are other specimens which lead me to believe that sev- 

 eral of these stones, like some of the wooden idols, were covered with a similar 

 substance, the occurrence of which, still clinging to the base, shows the absurdity of 

 regarding this as a polishing or grinding surface. 



Professor Mason does not commit himself to cither tlie mortar or 

 the idol theory. He says: 



The rough under-surface of the mammiform stones suggests the grinding of paint, 

 incense, spice, or some other precious material, and the natives are said by the his- 



a Porto Rican Stone Collars ami Tripointerl Idols. Smithsonian Misrdlancnus niUerlions, xlvh, 

 pt 2. 178-18-2, 1904. 



'• Many specimens of pestles with handles uut in the form of birds, iiimdrupeds, and human beings 

 might be mentioned in this connection. 



