76 



SLINGSTONES. 



Another form of flint weapon (fig. 88), which is common 

 in Denmark, has a handle like that of the last form, but 

 instead of a blade, it ends in a point, and suggests the 

 idea, that if the tip of a dagger had been accidentally broken 

 off, the rest of the weapon might have been worked up into 

 FIG. 88. one of these poniards, and thus utilized. In 



both these classes, the crimping along the 

 edges of the handle is very curious. 



The slingstones are of two kinds. The 

 first are merely rough pieces of flint, (pi. 

 1, fig. 12), reduced by a few blows of a 

 hammer to a convenient size and form. 

 But for the situations in which they are 

 found, these might almost be regarded as 

 natural fragments. Professor Steenstrup is 

 now disposed to think that many of them 

 were used as sinkstones for nets, but that 

 some have really served as slingstones seems 

 to be indicated by their presence in the Peat- 

 mosses, which it is difficult to account for in 

 any other way. The other kind of sling- 

 stones are round flattish flint disks, some 

 of which are beautifully made. 



The oval tool-stones (fig. 89), or "Tilhug- 

 gersteens" of the northern antiquaries, are 

 oval or egg-shaped stones, 

 more or less indented on one 

 or both surfaces. Their use 

 is not at present thoroughly 

 understood. Some antiqua- 

 ries suppose that they were held between 

 the finger and thumb, and used as hammers 

 or chippers. If, however, a large series is obtained, it will 

 be found that the depression varies greatly in depth, and 



FIG. 89. 



Oval Toolstone. 



Dagger (broken at 

 the point). 



