POLISHED STONE ARTICLES USED BV THE NEW YORK ABORIGINES 85 



five grooves, and the block is 16 by 18 inches. One of these grooves 

 intersects the rest. They are five eighths wide, and three eighths 

 of an inch deep. One of red sandstone, 15 by 18 inches, has one 

 groove, 14 inches long, and of the usual width and depth. Some of 

 these Pompey stones came from historic sites, and were un- 

 doubtedly used within the last three centuries. 



A fine one of sandstone, from Yates County, has three grooves 

 about 20 inches long and of the usual width and depth. Another 

 has five grooves, and still others have been found there. Two were 

 found in Hector, Tompkins County. One is of slate, 10 by 10, 

 and about three and one half inches thick. It has five grooves 

 across the face, which are nearly parallel. Four of these are but 

 little over half an inch apart, and are half an inch wide and a quar- 

 ter deep. The fifth is a little wider. The other stone is also of slate, 

 eight and one half by 12 inches, and three and one fourth thick. It 

 has two grooves, and all these are striated like the rest. 



Two more in Pompey are on either side of a stream, and partly 

 imbedded in the banks. The exposed part of one is 24 by 30 inches, 

 and the ends of the five grooves are buried in the earth. They are 

 nine, 16, 14, 11, and eight and one half inches long. The boulder 

 is common limestone. The other is in the west bank of the stream, 

 and is of corniferous limestone, partly exposed. Both boulders 

 extend into the brook. The exposed part of this is 24 by 30 inches, 

 and has two grooves, which are nine and 10 inches long. The 

 grooves and striae are carried through the flint nodules as in the 

 others, a feature best seen when the stone is wet. 



The use of these stones is of interest, and nothing has been sug- 

 gested but that of straightening and smoothing arrow shafts, by 

 rubbing them in these grooves. There are objections to this, but 

 they may not be insuperable. In the case last mentioned, the point- 

 ing of the grooves against a steep bank would embarrass arrow 

 making, the most convenient position being parallel with the stream. 

 If the shaft were long the difficulties would be increased. That 

 water and sand were used may be inferred from the parallel stria?, 

 and the usual position near a stream. That the grooves were made 

 with a purpose directly connected with their size, may be inferred 



