54 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



they supplemented with flint in the block obtained by way of 

 trade with neighbors occupying a flint-producing region. In 

 Queensbury, we find the occupants of all periods using the local 

 quartzite pebbles freely for long axes, celts, or hand axes, the 

 larger class of spears and knives, and scrapers ; w-hile the local 



sandstones supplied the place of harder material 

 for certain gouges and adzes. Laminae of fine 

 sandstone served for the manufacture of finely 

 wrought knives and lanceheads. The Eskimo 

 worked the silex, or white flint deposit, on 

 French mountain for material in the manu- 

 facture of large knives and spears, and even 

 small arrowheads, while the neighboring slate 

 quarries of Washington county served him in 

 the matter of material for slate knives, ground 

 and unground. And certain ceremonial stones, 





% as the perforated gorget, bird and bar amulet, 

 and often a banner stone, used by his predeces- 

 sors, were of the same material. Many chisels 

 and axes were made of the black limestone 



I -#.ii.V"?^'^fci^^^^ of the region, which was a favorite on account 

 ■\ of the high polish it takes. Greenstone and 

 '\ conglomxCrate pebbles were utilized for celts 

 \ and banner stones. At the foot of Glen lake 

 was found a thick celt, or hand axe, of brown 

 hematite, or ironstone. Hornstone and various 

 flints often occur in limestone deposits ; and 

 doubtless the native miner understood the lo- 

 cation of material of such value to him, in 

 these eastern tracts. Nevertheless much flint 

 in the rough must have been brought in from 

 the western sources.^ 



Typical gouge from 

 Warren countv 



ARCHEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS 

 Among other interesting objects are a series of flints from 

 Green Island and a semilunar or woman's knife from the mouth 

 of the Hoosic river. This latter object was donated to the 

 Museum by Mr Albert Hurd, of Troy, and represents one of the 

 largest semilunars found in this region. It is a rare and valu- 

 able specimen and its donor is entitled to special thanks. A 

 representation of this knife is shown in the accompanying figure. 



1 See X. Y. State Hist. Rept. by Auringer, 8: 102-12. 



