314 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



broken at the eye, and has the usual flattened form. Fig. 123 is a 

 flat and curved needle, found by Dr Amidon on the St Lawrence 

 site. The ends are well rounded, and the perforation is not cen- 

 tral. It is a fine and perfect specimen, though not a long one. 

 Fig. 279 may be called either an awl or needle, having some features 

 of each. It is sharp at one end and obtusely pointed at the other, 

 but has a central perforation, slightly grooved across. It is wide 

 for a needle, and is highly polished. This is from Pompey, and in 

 the Bigelow collection. Probably it should be placed with the awls 

 but may have had other uses. Fig. 280 is in the same collection 

 and from the Christopher site. It is a long and slender needle, 

 sharp at one end and with a rounded point at the other. The per- 

 foration is longer than usual, and probably enlarged by use. The 

 groove which crosses it shows how constant was the wear. Fig. 281 

 is shorter and not so slender, but has much of the same character. 

 These needles are usually flat on one side and a little rounded on 

 the other. 



Fig. 284 is from the Atwell fort, and may be an unfinished needle, 

 lacking the proper points and perforation. It is thin and flat, and 

 is somewhat curved. The edges are nearly parallel. Fig. 309 has 

 a similar character. The thickness and curve are shown, as well as 

 the flat surface. One end is pointed and the other left unfinished. 

 In its present state, there is no perforation, but there can be no 

 doubt that it was designed for a needle. This is in the Bigelow 

 collection and from the Christopher site. 



Fig. 324 is in one way unique, having one side straight and the 

 other curved. The remaining point is also quite sharp. It was 

 broken at the original perforation, which the groove shows was long 

 used. Then a circular hole was drilled more toward the point, 

 thus making a nearly terminal perforation. This had been scarcely 

 used at all. It is in the Waterbury collection, and is half round. 



Very few are perfect, as they are thin and narrow at the outset, 

 and the perforations necessarily weaken them. Use increases this 

 weakness, and they commonly gave way there. Broken forms, 

 however, sometimes have special features, and are at least valuable in 

 showing dates and distribution. Fig. 121 has already been mentioned 

 as unique in form whether classed as awl or needle. It is probably 



