” 
68 Antiquity of the Indians of North America. [February, 
rule; then I submit it is quite certain that the former are about 
thirteen centuries old, and the latter ranging from two and a half 
to four centuries. This is what really occurs in New Jersey, and 
in part I rest the claims of the Indian’s antiquity thereupon. 
Again, in the river flats that are yearly and semi-yearly over- 
flowed, this same condition obtains; and the deeper in the depos- 
its — which are constantly increasing in depth, and have been 
since the river assumed its present dimensions — that we find these 
arrow-heads, while mineralogically the same with the very finest, 
they show less skill in the workmanship. This applies, as we shall 
see, to all other forms and varieties of weapons, domestic imple- 
ments, and ornaments; and gives us evidence of an improvi 
savage, who subsequently reached a somewhat higher stage, be- 
yond which he has no capability of going. 
The grooved stone ax is a form of Indian relic that is a marked 
feature of the stone weapons of the Indians. They are mod- 
erately abundant everywhere, and tens of thousands are probably 
still lying in the soil. I have knowledge of one field of twelve 
acres from which have been already gathered one hundred and 
thirty specimens, and every plowing brings others to the surface. 
These axes give us the same evidence of gradual improvement 
I have pointed out as existing in the case of arrow-heads. Weap- 
ons of this pattern are strictly a neolithic form, the groove 
making it a polished or ground stone implement. They are 
never made of “ flaking” material, but are pecked or hammered 
into shape, then smoothed or polished. In the apparently more 
ancient graves, these axes are pebbles from the river bed, that 
have acquired something of an ax shape. The edge was first 
hammered and then smoothed by rubbing, and a roughened circle 
made about it, at or near the middle of the stone. Derived | 
from such a rude relic we have, in later times, very carefully 
grooved specimens, many with the groove faced with high ridges, 
that give the depression a double depth. The edge is a mar- 
vel: of accuracy in tool making, being as correctly formed as 
in the most elaborate steel ax of the present time, although of 
course not as thin in the blade, and as sharp. These perfect stone 
axes occasionally are turned up in plowing, but most frequently 
are found in graves, associated with finely wrought jasper spears 
and other weapons; but never in the oldest graves, or the deep, 
undisturbed soil. Examination of the mud of the river flats, and 
1 Stone tools, as hammers, whetstones, ete., indicative of the method pursued in 
making these and other weapons, are very abundant in some localities. 
