HUMAN REMAINS IN THE LOESS OF THE MISSOURI RIVER. 461 



for a handle, and bosses or protuberances are worked above and below the 

 groove, two forward, two back, and two on each broadside of the implement. 

 The material seems to be an impure grey-stone, rough-finished, and. with a good 

 edge that has been worn smooth by use. This unique specimen belongs to Dr. 

 A. L. Worden, of DesMoines, and was plowed up on his father's farm in Michi- 

 gan, two or three years ago. Other stone axes brought in for comparison were 

 — one by Judge Fulton from Taylor County, Iowa ; one by Master Chas. Keyes, 

 from Ohio; one by Dr. H. A. Reid, from Missouri, and one by Dr. A. G. Field, 

 from North Des Moines. All of these except one showed that the edge was 

 made oblique to the shaft or head of the ax — a fact of strange and curious in- 

 terest." 



The question arises — did the makers of these particular oblique or warp- 

 shaped axes have an obliquity of vision or of mental action, so that they could 

 not do true, straight work. I had noticed that same peculiarity in several axes 

 of stone and hematite in Missouri. And it would be worth while for some one 

 who has access to a large collection of these prehistoric axes to examine and see 

 what proportion of them have the edge oblique or warp-wise to 'the body and 

 head; and if one-half or more have that peculiarity, it would seem to give a clue 

 for some psychological inquiries. 



HUMAN REMAINS IN THE LOESS OF THE MISSOURI RIVER. 



E. P. WEST. 

 PEABODY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ARCHEOLOGY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., October 3, 1882. 

 Theo. S. Case, Esq., Kansas City, Mo.: 



£)ear Sir, — I enclose a newspaper slip at Mr. Putnam's request, and he wishes 

 me to ask you if there is any foundation for the article. He says if it is a^correct 

 statement that some geologist ought to give the place a thorough examination. 

 Will you kindly inform him if you have heard anything in regard to it. 



Respectfully yours, J. Smith, Ass't. 



Kansas City, Mo., October 15, 1882. 



Respectfully referred to Judge E. P. West for his consideration and action. 

 Any communication he may choose to make upon the subject I shall be glad to 

 receive and forward. 



Theo. S. Case, Ed. Review. 



