McoEE] AVOIDANCE OF EDGED STONES 241* 



tioii brought out by weathering ou one side is split ofl', presumably by 

 intention, and the fractured surface thus produced is partly smoothed 

 by rubbing, probably in use, though possibly by design. The edges are 

 more or less battered, especially at the ends, and several rude flakes 

 have been knocked off, evidently at random and presumably in ordinary 

 use as an ahst. The smoother face is wholly natural. The specimen 

 was picked up in a jacal at Rada Ballena, but bore no marks of recent 

 use. 



A tuff implement of suggestively ax-like form is shown in plate xlviii; 

 it is firmer and less pulverulent but more vesicular than most imple- 

 ments of its class; it weighs but 7 ounces (0.20 kilogram). The speci- 

 men was picked up in a ruinous jacal, which had evidently been occu- 

 pied temporarily within a fortnight, on the summit of the great shell- 

 mound forming Punta Antigualla. The vsomewhat indefinite texture 

 and color render it difiBcult to distiuguish between natural and artificial 

 features; but careful examination indicates that it is wholly natural in 

 form and in nine-tenths of the surface, and that the ax-like shape 

 expresses nothing more than accidents of structure and wave-work. 

 This interpretation is practically established by the slight battering 

 along the edges and about the smaller end, as illustrated in the edge 

 view; for this wear of use, which has produced a distinctive surface, is 

 practically absent from the notches which give the ax-like effect. 

 Besides the battering, the only artificial marks are ancient flre-staius 

 on one of the faces. On the whole it is clear that the artificial apjiear- 

 auce catching the eye at first glance is purely fortuitous, and that the 

 specimen is but a natural pebble very slightly modified by ordinary use. 



A suggestive specimen is illustrated in plate xlix; it is of purplish- 

 gray granitoid rock, of decided toughness and considerable hardness, 

 and weighs 12^ ounces (0.35 kilogram). The surface and general form 

 indicate that it is a natural pebble entirely without marks of artificial 

 use; but the regular curvature of the principal face (the shape is that 

 of a segment of a cylinder rounded toward the ends) suggests artificial 

 shaping, while it was found far in the interior, near Barranca Salina, 

 whither it must have been carried from the coast. It may jjossibly be 

 a fragment of a pestle subsequently wave- worn; but all the probabili- 

 ties are that it is wholly natural, and that its suggestive features are 

 fortuitous. 



The constant search for chipped or flaked tools which was extended 

 over nearly all Seriland seldom met the slightest reward; but the speci- 

 men shown in plate l was deemed of some interest in connection with 

 the search. It is of hard and tough greenstone, showing obscure and 

 irregular structure lines, though nearly homogeneous in texture; it 

 weighs 10 ounces (0.28 kilogram). It is primarily a natural pebble 

 with form and surface reflecting structure and texture in connection 

 with wave-action. Its artificial features are limited to the usual slight 

 battering of the smaller end, still less consi)icuous battering or griud- 

 17 ETH 1(J 



