5O MEMOIRS OF THE CARNEGIE MUSEUM 
the celts vary in section from oblong elliptical to nearly circular. The edge is 
curved, in some specimens nearly semicircular, only in a few specimens straight. 
‘They are nearly all made of very finely grained greenstone, varying in color from 
light-gray to yellowish. They are beautifully polished, except at the upper end, 
which served for hafting. 
The hundreds of specimens from Las Guacas, which I have observed, show 
unbroken edges without any splits or marks of battering. Very likely these tools 
served for cutting down forest trees, when clearing the ground in the manner which 
was customary in the region. In felling trees the natives resorted to the use of fire, 
with their stone axes chopping away the charred wood, when the trunk near the 
base had been partially consumed. ‘They may have served also as tools for making 
canoes and household objects of wood. Possibly too they were used as weapons, but 
never as chisels or wedges by stone-cutters, as undoubtedly was the case in the high- 
lands, as at Orosi. There similar celt-shaped tools often were employed for splitting 
and shaping the stone slabs for the cists, to judge by their badly mutilated and split 
edges. (Compare my ‘“ Archeological Researches in Costa Rica.” ) 
At Las Guaeas no celt of the common type of the highlands, having a distinctly 
angular section, seems to have been found. 
Pl. XXIII, Figs. 1-5 and Fig. 7 shows some of the commonest types of the 
celts of Las Guacas. Pl. XXIII, Fig. 3, illustrates a form with nearly parallel 
straight sides and well rounded section. Pl. XXIII, Fig. 1, shows a nearly bell- 
shaped specimen, which is rather rare, and Pl. XXIII, Fig. 5, illustrates another 
rare variety, which is contracted at the upper end. Celts seem to have been the 
principal stone tools of the Indians of Nicoya. 
Comparison may be made with the celts illustrated by Figs. 18, 50, and 55 in 
the text. 
The measurements of the celts illustrated on Pl. XXIII are the following: 
Fig. 1. Length 18.8 cm., breadth 7 em., thickness 5.4 cm. 
Fig. 2. SG) @to., He G3} Clits, i 5.5 em. 
Fig. 3. ae 22 seme 622 emer < 4.9 cm. 
Fig. 4. <eiG2sremi “a6. neni s 3.7 em. 
Fig. 5. lorem oi) }OLOkemne, f 4 em. 
Hugs ip 5.4 em., (C7 Aven, i 2.2 cm. 
Two celts were found at Las Guacas, which are adorned with incised geometrical 
designs. One is shown on Pl. XXXIV, Fig. 9. 
(a) (Pl. XXXIV, Fig. 9.) Celt of serpentine (?) adorned on each side with a 
transverse incised band inclosing a row of three circular incisions, each having a 
