J04 COOKING POTS A1STD FOOD VESSELS. 



Such stones would be very serviceable in heating water in water-tight 

 baskets, and for other similar purposes; while if a hot stone was required 

 for the purpose of straightening an arrow-shaft, or any other piece of wood, 

 those having a deep groove running transversely on what may be called 

 the under side of the stone would serve admirably for such purpose. Some 

 of these that are grooved on one face have the opposite surface deeply 

 excavated, thus forming a small receptacle, showing an economical use of 

 the stone. 



One specimen, also of steatite, is of a peculiar shape, and without any 

 marks of exposure to fire. This has the general outline of one of the small 

 pestles with a knob at its smaller end and a groove about the larger, but is 

 hollowed out from one surface, making an oval-shaped cup. This article is 

 rudely worked, and its whole appearance is such as to give the idea that it 

 had been attached by cords to some other article. To strengthen this sug- 

 gestion a small depression has been drilled on one side, as if it had been 

 at first thought necessary to make a hole through the side for the purpose 

 of assisting its attachment, and the idea was afterwards abandoned. The 

 measurements of this article are: Length, 5.5 inches; width, 2 inches; 

 cavity, 1 inch in depth. (Peabody Museum, 1 3492.) 



Another of these stones (P. M., 13168) is about 4.5 inches long by 1.75 

 inches wide and .75 of an inch thick. One end of this specimen is roughly 

 pointed, and has a small hole bored from both sides. On one surface of the 

 stone are two deeply cut grooves in the form of a letter X. If found on our 

 eastern shore this article would be unquestionably regarded as a sinker, and 

 it is very probable that such was its use, though it shows signs of having 

 been exposed to fire, but that may be entirely due to its having been made 

 from a fragment of a cooking utensil. 



Among the specimens in this lot are several which were probably used 

 as baking stones. Of these the following are specially worthy of note : 



One (P. M., 13165) is nearly symmetrical and regularly finished; 

 5.5 inches long, 5 inches broad at one end, and 4 inches at the other, with 

 the sides slightly and regularly curved throughout its length. On the nar- 

 row end are three carefully bored holes, the central one being .5 of an inch 

 in diameter, and nearly a third larger than the two others. These holes are 



