ARTICLES MADIC FIIOM VARIOUS MATERIALS. 63 



Dakota rock in this vicinity, known to the author, nor 

 do they resemble the usual form of the Sioux qua-rtz- 

 ite. The rock has no doubt been brought from some 

 distance, and its presence here gives further evidence 

 that aboriginal art was not limited to the resources of 

 its immediate surroundings in the i-aw materials which 

 it employed. 



As to the particular purpose for which these imple- 

 ments were prepared it is difficult to form an opinion. 

 The author must leave this to the conjecture of the 

 reader, and to students who have more material for 

 comparison .and a better knowledge of the arts and 

 customs of the prehistoric races. When in use they were 

 perhaps attached to wooden handles. These may have 

 been bent around the body of the stone, following the 

 groove, and the bent end tied to the main handle, this 

 mode of attachment being used in the case of stone 

 axes similai'ly grooA^ed. Mallets of the same size and 

 shape are known to have been in use, probably as ham- 

 mers or clubs, by some of the Sioux Indians in the 

 region of the Yellowstone.* Such a weapon might be 

 useful in hunting the buffalo or in warfare. The smallest 

 ones are light enough to be thrown from thongs or 

 ropes and to be used like the bolos of the Indians of 

 South America. 



Prof. Welin of Lindsboi'g has made the following 

 measurements of the mallets now found in the collection. 

 Linear dimensions are given in inches. 



* See note by V. W. Putnam, Etbnology, IT. S. Geogr. Surv. West of tlie lOo 

 Mer., Vol. VII., p. 20G. 



