•2 A PECULIAR GROUP OF TRONATTAS. 



more than lo per cent, of the total, and the same ap- 

 phes very likely to the archaeolithes of Europe. Not 

 having obtained European archaeolithes of a high finish, 

 does not prove that they do not exist ; however, if 

 the)^ did exist, we might expect their figures in the 

 numerous pamphlets that have been, published up to 

 date on this subject. But 'here we search in vain. None 

 of the specimens that have been fi^gured, and they most 

 probably do not represent the worst ones, come any- 

 where near to the highly finished tronatta of those 

 groups which have been classified as choppers, scrapers, 

 and knives. It therefore seems, that notwit'h'Standing its 

 eolithic element, the Tasmanian stage represents the 

 highest stage of the archaeolithic civilisation. If this 

 view be correct, we bave at last gained that important 

 step which has already been made with regard to the 

 palaeolithic implements, viz., the beginning of a classi- 

 fication according to the skill shown in the finish of the 

 implements. 



If the Tasmanian tronatta by its finish represents the 

 highest stage of archaeolithic civilisation, it is of great 

 importance to ascertain its distinguishing features. This 

 is, however, only possible by unceasing work. In the 

 following paper I wish to describe a small group of im- 

 plenTents which are of special interest, because they 

 seem to have been manufactured contrary to the com- 

 mon rule. Mr. R. M. Johnston was the first who re- 

 cognised the chief dharacter of the tronatta. In his 

 " Geology of Tasmania," Mr. Johnston says, page 335, 

 as follows : — " Whatever lack of symmetry they present 

 in facial outline, one of the faces is almost invariably 

 smootlhi and flattish, without marks of chipping. . . . The 

 direction of the blows to produce the sharp, smooth, or 

 finely serrate edge appears to have been towards the 

 stone and away from the original flat face." 



No conciser characteristic of the tronatta could be 

 given than this, and, though written in 1888, Herr 

 Klaatsch, who visited Tasmania towards the end of 1906 

 and early in 1907, entirely disregards it, and proceeds 

 to give a description of the characteristics of the Tas- 

 manian implements, purporting to be his own, but prac- 

 tically exactly the same as that of Mr. Jo'hnston. Con- 

 sidering that Herr Klaatsch did not devote more than a 

 fortnight to the studv of the tronattas, and that his own 



