USE OF HEMATITE CELTS. 



87 



nodule or concretion in which this ore of iron so frequently appears. 

 Occasionally one of homogeneous structure has been chipped into form 

 before grinding, the facets in some cases being rubbed nearly away. 

 Sometimes they have a rectangular outline, but usually the sides taper 

 from the edge to the top by a gradual 

 curve, or are parallel a part of the way 

 and then taper either by a straight or, 

 oftener, by a curved line. The section is 

 rectangular or elliptical. 



These implements were probably used as 

 knives or scrapers, being set into the end 

 of a piece of antler, which may in turn 

 have been set into a larger handle of wood. 

 That some were knives is shown by the edge which is dulled to a flat 

 polished surface extending from side to side ; and that many were scrap- 

 ers is shown by their celt-scraper shape, a half elliptical section, or by 

 the scraper-form edge, seen in the largest sf)ecimen. Some, however, 



FiQ. 78 Hematite celt. 



Fig. 79— Hematite celt. 



Fig. 81.— Hematite celt. 



have the edge symmetrical, as in the hatchet-celts. One has incurved 

 sides, and is roughened on the sides and on the faces near the top. 



Pestles. 



The fact of the ordinary conical or bell-shaped, long-cylindrical, or 

 somewhat pear-shaped stones having been used for pestles is so well 

 settled that no confirmatory references are needed. A few citations 

 may be given in regard to certain forms sometimes differently classed, 

 especially some of the discoidal stones to be hereafter described. 



According to Stevens, the corn crushers used by the Swiss lake- 

 dwellers are spherical; some are flattened on two sides, like an orange, 

 others almost round with depressions on four sides. They are about 

 the size of a man's fist or rather smaller. The Africans have a piece 

 of quartz or other hard stone as large as half a brick, one side of 

 which IS- convex, to tit the hollow of a larger stone used as a mortar.' 

 Evans observes that disks sometimes show marks of use as ham- 



' Stevens, E. T. ; riint Chips, p. 174. 



