1876.] Antiquity of the Indians of North America. 69 
other localities where analogous changes are in operation, yields 
precisely the same results, as to the degree of excellence of work- 
manship in comparison with the depth at which they occur, as 
in the case of arrow-points, and I draw the same conclusions in 
the one instance as in the other. 
Before referring to pottery and its bearings on this question, I 
desire very briefly to call attention to an interesting point con- 
nected with every large series of stone implements from a given 
locality ; that is, that there are very many forms of such relics 
that are never found except of advanced workmanship. In pro- 
portion as the implements of the Indian were of primitive make, 
they were few in forms, one form answering for a variety of pur- 
poses; but advance in the art suggested variations in shape to 
meet particular uses; and so, in proportion as we find a speci- 
men of a specialized shape, we find it elaborately wrought and 
of fine material. A rudely nicked flint flake was never yet met 
with that there is a shadow of reason for believing answered as 
a saw, and was thus used. The wavy, saw-like edges of many 
spear-heads doubtless suggested that tool ; and carefully toothed, 
thin flakes of jasper are frequently found, that unquestionably 
were made for sawing, and for this use only. The large *“ scrap- 
ers,” especially those occurring in fresh-water and marine shell- 
eaps, are not generally very carefully shaped, and the major- 
ity are made of easily worked material. Like arrow-heads, they 
give evidence of gradual improvement. With the ruder shapes 
of this implement, just referred to, there are never found associ- 
ated the delicately chipped, diminutive “scrapers,” as they 
are usually called, which were certainly intended for other uses 
than cleansing skins. These miniature “ skin-dressers” were 
doubtless suggested by the typical scraper, and so are of later 
origin. They are met with upon the surface of the ground, 
and, whatever their use, are simply another instance of what I 
stated concerning atrow-heads and axes. If correct in my con- 
clusions with reference to Indian relics as a whole, the bearing of 
the above remarks regarding specialized forms, such as described, 
on the question of the antiquity of the Indian, is obvious. 
There is no one class of relics by which the general advance in 
art can be estimated better than that of pottery. This, in a 
more or less fragmentary condition, occurs associated with neo- 
1 In a fresh-water shell-heap of limited dimensions, situated on the bank of a small 
“reek, has found a jasper saw seven inches in length, and near it several tibiæ 
of deer that had evidently been cut in sections with this implement. 
