5 A PECULIAR GROUP OF TRONATTAS. 



a matter of fact, which didnot require an inventive- 

 genius at all, were probably the most difficult to make, 

 and that it required a real genius to lead mankind from 

 the low archaeolithic to the higdier palaeolithic stage. 



PI. I., fig. 2, a specimen from Melton Mowbray, 

 measures 75 mm. in length ; tbe breadth at the butt end 

 is 37 mm., at the opposite end 54 mm., and its greatest 

 thickness is 13 mm. The weight is 1,210 grs. (2^ 

 ounces). The lateral edges are straight, the broader 

 ■edge curved, the narrower edge nearly straight. Its 

 shape is trapezoidal, and, being broader at one end than 

 at the other, and rather thin, it imitates in a way an a>;e- 

 head. This similarity is considerably increased by the 

 broader end being well chipped. We know, however, 

 that the Aborigines did not possess axes provided with 

 a handle, and it would be absurd to designate this 

 tronatta as an axe-head. On the other band, it is easy 

 to see how such mistaken identifications can arise. If 

 we knew absolutely nothing about the i\borigines, a 

 specimen like this would without question have been 

 declared an axe-head, though it miglht perhaps re- 

 mained a puzzle why not only the cutting but also one 

 of the longitudinal edges was sharpened. In this in- 

 stance we know better, but the lesson with regard to 

 the interpretation of European archaeolithes is obvious.. 



The pollical face is smooth and flat, but at the butt 

 end it shows a large bulb of percussion. The right edge 

 is almost for its whole length well chipped on the pollical 

 face. The indical face is almost flat, and the edge of the 

 broader end, which is slightly curved, is neatly and care- 

 fullv chipped. The chipping extends even somewhat to 

 the' left lateral edge, but it does not extend far enough 

 as to join on to the chipping of the pollical face, though 

 it is easy to see that the result would have been the same- 

 as in the former specimen. 



PI. II., fig. I, a specimen from Mona A'ale, measures 

 115 mm. in length, and has a greatest breadth of 59 

 mm., weighing 4 ounces. At its thickest part it 

 measures 19 mm., but for the greater part the thickness 

 is not more than 9 mm., and even comes down to 3 

 mm. at one end. 



The general shape is irregularly rhomboidal ; one- 

 lateral edge is almost straight, and that next to it 

 concave. "The pollical face is smooth and flat, and the- 



