FLINT FLAKES. 



65 



Fig. 10 brings us to a pattern of cutting implements, often designated 

 simply as "trimmed flakes." This specimen is a thin flake of pale-brown 



Fig. 10. 



Along the 



jasper, two and three-fourths inches 

 in length, and less than one inch 

 in greatest breadth. Having a 

 square base and a well-defined 

 point, and somewhat thinner along 

 one side than the other, this speci- 



Flint knife. 



men has much in common with the blades of modern knives 

 edges extends a very delicate secondary chipping, producing slight serra- 

 tions which are possibly intentional. This form of knife, also, is quite 

 characteristic of the "finds" in the Middle and Southern States, and occurs 

 frequently in England and in some of the caves of Southern France. 



It has been reported that the Rev. Stephen Bowers has discovered 

 some chipped flint knives in the vicinity of Santa Barbara, more deli- 

 cately fashioned and smaller than any described in this paper. These are 

 scalpel-like in form, and extremely sharp along the cutting edge. 



Flint flakes. — Simple fragments of a flint pebble, whether produced 



by natural or artificial means, can scarcely be looked fig. n. 



upon as stone implements, although, when the edge 

 was sufficiently sharp, such a splinter or flake might 

 readily have been utilized. If a large number of 

 such flakes, of varied forms and sizes, are found in 

 a limited locality, they mark the site of some an- 

 cient workshop, where flint implements of different 

 patterns were made, especially when associated with 

 broken arrowheads and other forms. 



Fig. 11 represents a flake wholly different from 

 any of the preceding knives and knife-like speci- 

 mens. There is an entire absence of secondary 

 chipping, and its outline being so illy adapted for 

 cutting purposes, I am inclined to believe it was not 

 used as an implement. Flakes of identical size, Flint flake. 



shape, and mineral are very common in the Middle States, especially 

 5 o i 



